Rasheed, Mian Altaf, Mohmad Haneefa strongly oppose
Srinagar: Speaker of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather on Thursday said the Waqf Amendment Bill is violative of the Constitution’s freedom of religion and an “unnecessary interference” in religious matters of Muslims.
“You saw more than 200 MPs opposed the Bill in the Lok Sabha because this Bill is a violation of Article 25 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion. I see it as an unnecessary interference in Muslim personal law,” Rather told reporters in the Chadoora area of the Budgam district.
Rather said the government claimed that the Waqf Bill was brought for the benefit of the Muslim community.
“What is the point of bringing a Bill which you claim will benefit the Muslim community but the Muslims are against it?” he asked.
He claimed the Waqf Amendment Bill has hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community, which was evident in Parliament with more than 200 MPs opposing it.
“I do not think it (Waqf Bill) was a right step,” he said.
Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, MP from Baramulla, criticised the bill, declaring, “I oppose this bill tooth and nail.” He accused both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress of political hypocrisy, stating, “BJP openly reminds Muslims of their rights, but Congress stabs Muslims in the back with the sweet juice of secularism.” Rasheed also questioned the role of Waqf management, urging introspection among Muslims regarding the utilisation of Waqf properties. “How many hospitals and universities have we built with Waqf? Are these properties being misused?” he asked.
Mian Altaf Ahmad, MP from Anantnag, condemned the bill as “illegal” and “against minorities.” He argued that the legislation strips state governments of their authority over Waqf matters. “This bill attacks the powers of the state government and brings a law that divides society,” he asserted. Ahmad warned that the law would harm India’s global reputation as a secular nation. “By passing such laws, our country’s secularism is being questioned worldwide,” he added.
Mohmad Haneefa, MP from Ladakh, expressed concern over provisions allowing non-Muslims to be part of the Waqf administration. “If non-Muslims are included in the Waqf Board, this will directly interfere with the religious rights of the Muslim community and violate Article 26 of the Constitution,” he said. Hanifa also criticised the bill’s approach to Waqf properties, stating, “The government wants to abolish the principle of Waqf by taking control of its assets, which have been historically protected by the Muslim community.”
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after discussion for over 12 hours with the govt countering the opposition’s charges of encroachment on constitutional and Muslim rights and attacks on federalism with a strong defence of the changes in the Act governing Islamic endowments.
