Jamaat-e-Islami Hind President opposes Waqf Amendment Bill, calls it ‘Legislative Dis
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind President opposes Waqf Amendment Bill, calls it ‘Legislative Discrimination’ against Muslims
M.U.H
04/04/202522
NEW DELHI: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Syed Sadatullah Husaini (JIH) has strongly condemned the Waqf Amendment Bill, terming it a “highly condemnable move” that paves the way for “legislative discrimination against Muslims.” The bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, which Husaini argues contains provisions that are not exclusive to Muslims but are also common to the religious endowment laws of other communities.
In a statement, Mr Husaini pointed out that several religious communities have similar provisions in their endowment laws that restrict the management of their respective properties to members of their faiths. He specifically referred to “temples by users,” which is similar to the concept of “Waqf by user,” and pointed out that such laws offer exemptions from statutes like the Limitation Act. However, he argued that Muslims alone are being targeted by the amendment, depriving them of these rights in a move he described as “blatant legislative discrimination” and a “dangerous precedent.”
Mr Husaini also criticized the bill’s sweeping changes to the Waqf Act, which, according to him, would increase government control over the management of Waqf properties and alter their religious character. He described this as a violation of Article 26 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees religious minorities the right to manage their own religious institutions. Despite widespread opposition to the bill and millions of objections from the public, Mr Husaini claimed that the government had ignored feedback from the key stakeholders, rendering the consultative process a mere formality.
“The bill does nothing to curb corruption, illegal occupation, or misuse of Waqf properties. The government cannot point to a single provision that addresses these issues,” Mr Husaini added. “It only worsens Waqf administration.”
The JIH President also criticized certain media outlets for spreading false narratives, claiming that the bill’s true impact was being misrepresented to the public. He urged secular parties, opposition leaders, and NDA allies to resist the bill, accusing some of them of succumbing to political pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “It is disappointing that some parties, despite claiming to be secular, have chosen to support it,” he said. “They must not participate in communal politics, and if they fail to oppose this bill, history will remember their betrayal.”
The JIH leader reiterated that Waqf properties are religious endowments and not government assets, and any attempt to dilute the governance of Waqf properties and increase state control would be unacceptable. He warned that if the bill was passed undemocratically, it would lead to protests nationwide, led by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and other Muslim organizations. “We will challenge this law through all constitutional, legal, democratic, and peaceful means. The struggle against this injustice will continue until the rights of the community are fully restored,” he said.
