Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in toto as it would severely harm the interest of Muslim community and undermine their religious autonomy.
The Amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament today amid strong objections from the Opposition parties.
In a Demi-Official letter to Mr Modi, copies of which were released to the media here, he said the The amendments proposed to the Waqf Act will weaken the powers and responsibilities of Waqf Boards in the management and protection of Waqf properties.
The large-scale modifications proposed across wide range of sections in the existing Act will dilute the very spirit of the Act itself, he noted.
As there was clear cut provision in the existing Waqf Act, 1995 to safeguard the interest and properties of Waqfs, there was no need for such far reaching amendments to the existing Act, he said and urged Mr Modi to withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill completely.
Stating that Tamil Nadu was in the forefront of protection of the rights of Minorities, who live in harmony and religious amity in the State, the Chief Minister said the Constitution of India grants every citizen the right to follow their respective religions and it is the duty of the elected Governments to uphold and protect this right.
“However, the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995 have not taken into consideration the constitutional protection given to Minorities and are bound to severely harm the interest of Muslim community”, he said.
“The provisions in the existing Waqf Act are time tested and they provide protection to the properties of the Waqf”, Mr Stalin said, adding, the amendments proposed to the Waqf Act will weaken the powers and responsibilities of Waqf Boards in the management and protection of Waqf properties.
Pointing out that the large-scale modifications proposed across wide range of sections in
the existing Act will dilute the very spirit of the Act itself, he said for example, the proposed
mandatory inclusion of two non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards will undermine the
religious autonomy of the Muslim community’s ability to manage its religious and charitable
endowments independently; Removal of the ‘Waqf by user’ provision threatens the status
of many historical Waqf properties.
He also said the stipulation that the individuals who practiced Islam for at least five years
only can donate properties to Waqf will prevent Non-Muslims from donating properties to
Waqf which will hinder the syncretic culture of the country.
“Since the existing Waqf Act, 1995 is adequate and has clear-cut provisions to safeguard
the interest and properties of Waqfs, it is our view that there is no need for such far reaching
amendments to the existing Waqf Act, 1995”, he said.
Recalling the unanimous Resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
on March 27 urging the Union Government to completely withdraw the proposed Waqf
(Amendment) Bill, 2024, Mr Stalin also enclosed a copy of the Resolution and sought
Mr Modi’s personal intervention in protecting the interests of Muslim minority people
and preserving the Waqf institutions.
UNI
