Waqf Bill ..... Opposition unity may not matter much, "only irritant" for Team Namo could be JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, who has a track record of 'betraying' friends !!

Bill proposes non-Muslims in waqf council, state boards

Opposition claims bill aimed at curbing religious freedom of Muslims

The only irritant for the NDA could be JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, who has expressed his concerns to the BJP leadership on the amendments. 

The NDA has a majority of 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, including 12 from the JD(U). In the Rajya Sabha too, the bill is expected to face no hiccups, with NDA having the support of 125 MPs - seven more than the majority mark of 118.

WHY THE WAQF BILL HAS SPARKED CONTROVERSY

Amongst a host of proposed changes, there are five specific provisions of the new Waqf bill that have sparked controversy and are objected to by Muslim organisations, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).

One of the proposals in the bill includes tweaks to the composition of the Central Waqf Council and state waqf boards. The bill makes it mandatory to include non-Muslims as its members.

The relative lull seen in the second part of the Budget session is set to end on Wednesday as the Centre tables the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, with a showdown expected between the ruling NDA and the opposition. While the government, which has allocated eight hours for a discussion on the bill, is confident of it sailing through due to its majority, the Congress-led opposition has vowed to mount a stiff resistance.

The amendments proposed under the new Waqf bill give the government a say in regulating waqf properties and settling disputes regarding them. 

This has generated a wide-scale protest and opposition from Muslim outfits.

The bill, which seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 that governs the management of properties donated by Muslims, was initially tabled in Parliament last year in August. 

However, amid fierce protests by the opposition and various Muslim outfits, the bill was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).  

After weeks-long deliberations, which saw heated exchanges that even led to Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee smashing a glass bottle and injuring himself, the JPC cleared 14 amendments to the bill. 

The 44 amendments proposed by opposition MPs were junked by BJP lawmaker Jagdambika Pal-led panel. 

The bill was eventually approved by the Union Cabinet in February.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED WAQF?

In simple terms, a waqf is a charitable or religious donation, mostly in the form of property, made by Muslims. Most of these donations are made without valid documentation. The proceeds from such donations are used to maintain mosques, graveyards and fund madrasas and orphanages.

However, once a property is designated as waqf, it cannot be transferred or sold. According to a report, Waqf boards in the country control 8.72 lakh properties, amounting to over 9.4 lakh acres.