Centre likely to present Waqf amendment bill tomorrow

India Today

The Centre plans to present the Waqf Amendment Bill on April 2, aiming to reform Waqf property administration. The bill has sparked debate, with the BJP accusing opposition of misleading the public.

Transcript

00:00Next 24 hours, we are expecting the Waqf Amendment Bill.

00:03This has had strong connotations, there's been communal overtone,

00:07but eventually the government believes sweeping arbitrary powers of Waqf needs to go.

00:12The much-anticipated Waqf Bill will be presented likely tomorrow is what we are told,

00:162nd of April, and will mark a significant legislative development.

00:20It aims to reform the administration of the Waqf properties and has sparked a fierce debate

00:24like we've seen in the past few days.

00:26BJP accusing political parties and opposition, even some organizations,

00:31of trying to create deliberate unrest, deliberately mislead the public

00:35about the provisions in the Waqf Amendment Bill.

00:37Senior BJP ministers, therefore, will be deployed.

00:40They'll be holding discussions with even India bloc leaders

00:43before the bill is presented in the parliament,

00:46and they want to ensure a smooth passage in this case.

00:49Despite the government's assurances, however, opposition is also very clear.

00:52They have taken a pledge they will not let the Waqf Amendment Bill clear,

00:57and they are saying this is a direct attack on the constitution as well.

01:00Interestingly, amid all of this, one of the alliance partners

01:04of the government of the centre of the NDA, the Janata Dal United,

01:07prominently focusing in Bihar,

01:09has cautioned the centre against implementing the new law retrospectively,

01:13stressing that already existing dargahs, mosques,

01:15other Muslim religious sites and areas should not be interfered with.

01:49They should be used for the benefit of the poorest of Muslims.

01:53They should be used for the benefit of the poorest of Muslims.

02:19The Waqf Bill, there are so many contentious issues,

02:30and opposition parties are taking it up,

02:33and inside parliament, outside parliament.

02:36The core purpose of this bill is to target the minority community.

02:44Now, at this time, it is Muslim minority.

02:49Of course, there are other issues also with the Waqf property,

02:55land, and people are staying there for years together.

02:58Those things will have to examine,

03:01and it should be justice cannot be denied to anyone.

03:05Injustice cannot be done to anyone.

03:09Let's try and get a perspective on that.

03:10Joining me India Today's Piyush Mishra.

03:12Piyush, good morning.

03:13Tell me about the strategy of the government,

03:16but also the opposition,

03:17even though, of course, numbers are more with the NDA,

03:20but interesting how the JDU has a caution,

03:22opposition parties are set.

03:24Who do you think is strategizing better and how?

03:28Well, BJP is in touch with not only the NDA allies,

03:31but also, you know, with few constituents in India alliance.

03:34That's what Akhilan Rijuji yesterday had claimed.

03:36So, BJP has got, the NDA has got a robust strategy

03:40as far as passing this bill is concerned,

03:41and like rightly mentioned that yes,

03:43there was some apprehensions with the JDU, TDP,

03:46and also LJP.

03:48But sources within these parties are now telling us

03:50that all these apprehensions have been dealt with

03:53and the amendments of those have been put in by these parties

03:57have also been accepted by the government

03:59and a fresh bill will be tabled in the parliament.

04:02So, they are going to support this bill when it is tabled.

04:05But on the other side,

04:06there are various other political parties like Congress,

04:09Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadhi Party,

04:12NCP, Sharm Pawar, UPGT,

04:14all, you know, are opposing this.

04:16And that is why, you know,

04:18we can expect a few days or the left of a budget session.

04:23But the government has requested opposition political parties

04:26not to do the vote bank parties

04:29and support this bill in the welfare

04:31of poor sort of Muslim community.

04:33We'll have to wait and watch Pooja,

04:35how it is tabled and when it is tabled

04:37and what kind of discussions take place

04:39and how many hours are also allotted

04:41for the discussion on this entire.

04:44This is going to be one issue very crucial

04:46because the government says this will benefit one and all.

04:49There have been serious concerns

04:51with regard to usurping powers allegedly

04:54but opposition says it's an attack on constitution.

04:57Pooja, stay on with me.

04:58Because just for the viewer,

05:00when we talk of the Waqf Amendment Bill,

05:02what really are some of the contentious points?

05:04It basically will allow, for example,

05:06closely on your screen,

05:07allows non-Muslim CEO,

05:09at least two non-Muslim members

05:12to be appointed by the state government.

05:14These are some of the contentious points

05:16that we are looking at of the Waqf Amendment Bill.

05:18There's a joint parliamentary recommendation

05:20on appointee that shall be officer

05:23at the joint secretary level

05:24or a higher appointee who shall have the knowledge

05:27of the Muslim law,

05:28of the Muslim jurisprudence

05:30and therefore with regard to that

05:32will be able to decide better.

05:34Some of the contentious points coming in are,

05:35for example, district collector can decide

05:38if there is a disputed property

05:39like we have seen of cases in the past

05:42is Waqf or if it belongs to the government.

05:45So that decision in many ways,

05:47one will lie with the district collector

05:50that gives them a power

05:52but also the decision in disputes currently

05:54which is made by the Waqf tribunal.

05:56So Waqf decides right now

05:57if this property should be with the Waqf

06:00or should be granted to someone else.

06:02Now the district collector may possibly decide.

06:04Now the JPC recommendation,

06:06giving power to decide disputes

06:08to officer more senior

06:10than the district collector as well.

06:12The contentious point here is

06:14it may junk the concept of the Waqf by user

06:17referring to the property

06:19as Waqf based on long-term use

06:21for religious and charitable purposes.

06:23So that's basically what the Waqf intended to do

06:26that the properties would be

06:27for certain charitable purposes

06:29but many did question

06:30if that was happening or not.

06:32Amit, all of this,

06:33remember look closely on the screen.

06:34Now the bill can make Waqf properties

06:36which don't have a valid Waqf nama disputed.

06:40That's been a contentious point.

06:41So every Waqf property

06:42will have to be registered on central database

06:45within the six months.

06:46That's the JPC recommendation

06:48and the law will be passed

06:50not registering on portal

06:51could result in forfeiting right

06:53to move court in case of dispute as well.

06:56So that is what has come in in this case.

06:58If that happens,

06:59the JPC recommendation is

07:01Waqf tribunal will comprise the district judge,

07:04state government officer

07:06of the joint secretary rank.

07:07So these are some of the main points

07:09that have come in.

07:10Let's take in another.

07:11The tribunal's decision

07:13can be challenged in the high court.

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