- Bill could stir up the tensions between the government and the minority Muslims.
- Critics, Muslim groups fear that the bill will erode property rights.
- Minister Rijiju says Bill is pro-Muslim and will slow down the transplant.
New Delhi: The Indian government presented a bill to Parliament on Wednesday which plans to bring changes to the management of large expanses of land reserved only for Muslim use, potentially missing tensions between the government and the minority Muslims.
Lands and properties fall under the “WAQF” category, which means “stay” in Arabic, and have a Muslim for religious, educational or charitable purposes. These lands cannot be transferred or sold.
Government and Muslim organizations estimate that more than 25 WAQF councils hold nearly 85,1535 properties and 900,000 acres of land, putting them among the three main landowners in India.
The WAQF (Amendment) bill, tabled by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposes the inclusion of non -Muslim members on the Waqf Central Council and Waqf councils and will allow the government to determine the property of the disputed WAQF properties.
The legislation occurs in the midst of tensions between the Muslim community and the Modi government. Opposition legislators and Islamic groups consider the bill as a plan to guarantee assets belonging to Muslims and weaken their property rights under the Indian Constitution.
The Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, who tabled the bill, said that this would end corruption, mismanagement and examination of property rules largely controlled by certain Muslim families and elite groups.
The bill should “be considered a” pro-Muslim reform “, he said.
Vote to decide Bill’s fate
A vote by the legislators of the Alliance and the opposition to power in the lower chamber will decide the fate of the bill later Wednesday.
“It is normal to reserve two positions for the WAQF board of directors for non-Muslims, but does this mean that Muslims will obtain a similar reserve in the boards of directors of Hindu temples?” Asked Kamal Farooqui, an official of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
“Modi’s government wants to control the Islamic terrestrial bank and they are not allowed to undermine our institutions,” he said.
A 2006 Sachar Committee report appointed by the government had urged an overhaul of WAQF’s advice and the follow -up of properties to generate higher yields for the Muslim community.
India should have the largest Muslim population in the world by 2050, the Pew Research Center has planned. However, the community, which represents around 13% of the population of India, is late on the national average on indicators such as education, employment and political representation.
Muslim groups allege that Modi’s power party and the Hindu affiliates of the hard line since 2014 have promoted anti-Islamic policies, violent and demolished vigilance belonging to Muslims.
Modi and its party officials refuse allegations of religious discrimination.
