‘Hurting Muslim sentiments’: Tamil Nadu assembly passes resolution against Centre’s Waqf Amendment Bill

The Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution against the Waqf Amendment bill on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin moved a resolution against the Waqf Amendment Bill in Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday. He said that the Bill is "destroying" the rights of Muslims.

The Waqf Amendment Bill was proposed by the central government in Parliament last year. It seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.

‘Hurting Muslim sentiments’

Opposing the bill in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Thursday, CM MK Stalin said, “The Union government is trying to amend Waqf Bill, which will hinder the Waqf Board’s powers. This is hurting Muslim sentiments, and Union Government does not bother about it.”

Stalin called the Waqf Amendment bill “against Muslims”.

He said, “The central government is inserting schemes that are against state Rights, Culture, and tradition. In India, various cultures, traditions, and languages are present, but they are doing it with the intention of taking revenge on the states.”

"I am going to take a resolution in our state Assembly today. This Waqf Amendment Bill is destroying the rights of Muslims. The central government never thought about the welfare of the Muslims and their Rights. So we are in the place to pass a resolution against it," MK Stalin was quoted by news agency ANI as saying in the assembly.

‘Against freedom of religion’

Stalin said that the Union government is trying to amend the Waqf Bill, which will "hinder the Waqf Board's power." He said, “The amendment says that two non-Muslims should be a part of Stated Waqf. Muslims fear that this a way for the government to usurp Waqf Properties, and this is against freedom of religion.”

The Tamil Nadu CM said the Waqf Bill could be tabled anytime in Parliament, and "we will have to show our opposition. This Amendment will curb the Waqf Board in the future; hence, I place the Resolution," he said."

According to ANI, the resolution stated, “People are living in religious harmony in India. The Constitution has provided rights for all people to follow their religion.”

“The elected Governments have the rights to protect it. The Assembly unanimously insists that the Union Government should recall the Waqf Amendment Bill in 2024 for Waqf Act 1995, which will badly affect the minority Muslims to be withdrawn,” it read.

About Waqf Amendment Bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

One of the provisions of the Bill seeks to change the composition of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards to include non-Muslim members.

Meanwhile, The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments.

In February this year, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposed amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after incorporating changes recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

(With inputs from agencies)