The Central Government introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. As soon as this bill was introduced in the House, the country’s largest, richest and most powerful Muslim institution, the Waqf Board, is once again in the news, due to which the opposition started accusing the BJP of making the Waqf amendment to take revenge for the decrease in seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The bill has been brought. The entire political controversy has spread due to the introduction of the bill which changes the timing of Waqf Board.
First of all let’s talk about Waqf property. Delhi is spread over a total area of 3.6 lakh acres and the Waqf Board in the country is said to have more than 9 lakh acres of land. That means the Waqf Board alone has land equal to three Delhis. A state like Goa is spread over 9.14 lakh acres, which means that Waqf in the country has as much land as Goa. If we look at the further distribution of Waqf land in India on the basis of land, the total land owned by Delhi, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep is more than that owned by the Waqf Board alone.
After Railways and Army, Waqf Board has the most land.
After Railways and Army, Waqf Board has the largest amount of land in the country. It is said that this land and Waqf property worth billions and the income from this property can and should be used for educational institutions, cemeteries, mosques, charity and orphanages, but there have been allegations that the names of the Waqf property are being used. But land mafia, politicians and property builders play big games, due to which common Muslims and poor Muslims are of no benefit. Because the Waqf Board has already been given such unlimited powers under the guise of political appeasement, which is not the case even in other Muslim countries. That is why the government says that a bill to amend the Waqf Act has been brought in the public interest.
What are the provisions in the new bill?
If we compare the provisions of the law till now and the new bill, earlier if the Waqf Board laid claim on any land, the owner of the land could only go to the Waqf Tribunal for justice. According to the new bill, apart from the tribunal, he will have the right to appeal in the Revenue Court, Civil Court and High Court. Where till now the decision of the Waqf Tribunal was considered the final decision in the dispute between the Waqf Board and others, in the new bill there will be a right to go to the High Court against the decision of the Tribunal.
These rights are mentioned in the bill
Till now, where there is an old mosque or the land/property has been used for Islamic purposes, then that land property was automatically considered as Waqf, but in the new bill it has been said that only when someone donates his land/property, it will be considered as Waqf. Will be considered. Even if there is a mosque on it. The most important thing is that till now there was a ban on the entry of women and people of other religions in the Waqf Board, now in the new bill it has been said that there will be 2 women and 2 people of other religions in the Waqf Board.
Kiren Rijiju said- We are not going to run away
When there was a lot of debate regarding this bill, Kiren Rijiju said that, we propose that this bill be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. On this the speaker said that yes, I will form a committee soon. At the same time, Asaduddin Owaisi demanded division on this. The speaker asked how division is formed on this. Owaisi said that we have been demanding division from the beginning. Kiren Rijiju said that we are not going to run away. While presenting the bill, he said that this bill should be passed from here. After this, whatever scrutiny needs to be done, we are ready. Make this bill and send it to JPC. Members of every party should be in that committee, whoever wants to do scrutiny, we are ready.