Waqf Bill set to be tabled in parliament on April 2

The Union government plans to table the Waqf (Amendments) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, despite strong opposition resistance. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju urged lawmakers to participate in the debate, emphasizing the importance of discussing the bill. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC), led by Speaker Om Birla, may meet on Tuesday to finalize the schedule for the debate.

With only a few days remaining in the budget session, the government also plans to pass other important bills, including The Coastal Shipping Bill and The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of Goa Bill in the Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, two bills are scheduled for passage: The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill and The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill.

However, all eyes are on the Waqf Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August. The bill proposes 40 amendments to the Waqf Act, aiming to modernize the governance of India’s waqf boards. Among the changes, it includes ensuring representation for Muslim women and non-Muslims in the boards. Critics, however, claim the amendments could harm Muslim communities, and some argue the bill lacks sufficient scrutiny.

The government maintains that the bill aligns with recommendations from the 2006 Rajinder Sachar Committee, aiming to simplify an outdated system. However, opposition parties have raised concerns about its implications. The bill had been amended by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), which renamed it to the “Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act.” The JPC report was presented during the Budget session, but its amendments, including a proposal to ensure protection for existing Waqf properties, were not included in the final bill.

Rijiju addressed concerns about the bill, calling out misinformation. He compared the fear around the Waqf Bill to the misinformation spread before the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He questioned whether any Muslims had lost their citizenship since the CAA passed, suggesting that similar fears about the Waqf Bill were unfounded.

The government initially hesitated to table the bill last week due to the Eid celebrations but is now pushing for its introduction in the last week of the session. Despite the controversy, some religious leaders, including Syed Naseruddin Chishty of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, voiced support for the reforms. The Catholic Bishops Conference of India also backed the amendments, calling for a constructive approach to the issue.

Opposition parties, however, have condemned the bill, arguing that it undermines the Constitution and threatens social harmony in India’s multi-religious society. The Congress, in particular, criticized the bill as an “assault” on the Constitution.