Waqf Amendment Bill to spark opposition conflict in India

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to be introduced in India's Lok Sabha next week. This development is expected to lead to another confrontation between the government and opposition parties. Most opposition members are against the new legislation. The Cabinet has approved amendments to the Waqf Bill. These changes come after recommendations from a parliamentary panel. The Bill was initially introduced in Lok Sabha by Minister Kiren Rijiju and was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in August 2024. The committee's report, which is 655 pages long, has been submitted to both Houses of Parliament. In the report, the committee suggests removing the "Waqf by User" provision and recognizing only existing "Registered Waqf by User" properties. This means that properties in dispute or owned by the government will not qualify. The committee also supports including non-Muslims in waqf boards and transferring authority to investigate disputes from district collectors to senior state government appointees. Additionally, state waqf boards will now include a member from the Muslim OBC community. This change aims for broader representation. The ruling NDA, led by the BJP, holds a strong majority in the Lok Sabha, with 293 out of 543 seats. In January, the JPC approved 14 amendments with support from some parties, indicating alignment with the BJP. The proposed changes aim to modernize the Waqf system, including stricter regulations for the registration and monitoring of waqf properties.