The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which has been under scrutiny since being sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) earlier this month, is facing strong opposition from key allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
On Thursday, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) revealed that the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have assured Muslim bodies of their opposition to the bill.
At a joint press conference held by prominent Muslim organisations, AIMPLB President Khalid Saifullah Rahmani stated that recent meetings had taken place with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, both key allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the NDA government.
“We have conducted meetings with several political parties and leaders. We met Chandrababu Naidu and he said they will oppose this bill, we met Nitish Kumar yesterday, and he also assured us and said they will oppose the bill. We also met Tejashwi Yadav, and he said they will oppose the bill. Uddhav Thackeray’s statement has come that we will not allow the government to touch the Waqf. Similarly, a statement has come from the Tamil Nadu chief minister as well. Other secular parties and NDA allies have also assured us that they will oppose the bill,” Rahmani said in response to a question from The Wire.
While the bill faced opposition from the INDIA alliance partners at the introduction stage in the Lok Sabha, BJP allies JD(U) and TDP initially supported sending it to a JPC for further scrutiny. However, AIMPLB’s recent meetings indicate a shift in their stance.
In another response during the press conference, Rahmani emphasized that the opposition to the bill is not a Hindu-Muslim issue, stating, “We have met all political leaders, including allies of the BJP. Because this is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. We hope that all parties, including those allied with the BJP, will work in the interest of secularism.”
The press conference also saw participation from Arshad Madani (President, Jamait Ulama-i-Hind and Vice President, AIMPLB), Syed Sadatullah (Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind), Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salfi (Ameer, Markazi Jamait Ahle Hadith), Mohammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi (General Secretary, AIMPLB), and S.Q.R Ilyas (Spokesperson, AIMPLB).
The JPC, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, held its first meeting on Thursday. Following the meeting, YSRCP MP V. Vijayasai Reddy, who had opposed the bill in the Lok Sabha, announced that he would submit a dissent note. “This bill has many concerns of various stakeholders and is not acceptable in its current form,” Reddy said, adding that he would present these concerns in his dissent note, which would become part of the permanent record.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh, also a JPC member, reiterated his opposition to the bill, citing potential government interference in religious affairs. “We will oppose the bill. There is no question of government interference in religious affairs. Tomorrow you will try to capture lands owned by mandirs and gurdwaras. Article 26 of the Indian Constitution, which gives independence to religious groups to administer their own affairs—what will happen to that constitutional right? You are trying to snatch rights given in the constitution. That is why we will oppose it,” Singh told the media.
Pal, addressing the press before the JPC meeting, assured that the committee would thoroughly discuss the legislation and invite stakeholders, including state waqf board members and minority organizations like AIMPLB. “The objective of this bill by the government is that property donated for religious and pious purposes should be beneficial for women, education, among others. This is a reform that is being brought. We will discuss all amendments in the new bill in the JPC,” he said.
However, Muslim bodies expressed disappointment at not yet receiving an invitation from the JPC. “The government has kept its doors shut to all forms of discussions with the Muslim community. Who should we talk to? If they take one step, we are ready to take ten steps. For now, if the JPC calls us, then we will go and examine what they say. But for now, the bill in the present form is not acceptable,” Rahmani stated.
The Muslim organizations reiterated their concern that the legislation aims to destroy waqf properties and “pave the way for their encroachment.” They appealed to secular political parties and all opposition parties to ensure that the bill did not pass in Parliament. S.Q.R. Ilyas added that Muslim bodies would continue to engage with political parties and explore “all legal, political, and democratic options,” including the possibility of a nationwide agitation if necessary.
 Bill, which has been under scrutiny since being sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) earlier this month, is facing strong opposition from key allies within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).){kind=link}