- Bill could enliven the tensions between the government and the minority Muslims.
- Critics, Muslim groups fear Bill will erode property rights.
- Minister Rijiju says that Bill is pro-mulman and grafted.
Nueva Delhi: The Indian government presented a bill in Parliament on Wednesday that plans radical changes in the management of vast land extensions reserved only for Muslim use, potentially stealing tensions between the government and minority Muslims.
The land and properties are divided into the “WAQF” category, which means “staying” in Arabic, and are endowed by a Muslim for religious, educational or charitable purposes. This land cannot be transferred or sold.
Government and Muslim organizations estimate that more than 25 WAQF boards have almost 85,1535 properties and 900,000 acres of land, placing them between the three main owners of India.
The WAQF (amendment) bill, presented by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposes the inclusion of non -Muslim members at the joints of the WAQF and WAQF Central Council and will allow the Government to determine the property of the WAQF properties in dispute.
The legislation occurs in the midst of tensions between the Muslim community and the Government of Modi. Opposition legislators and Islamic groups see the bill as a plan to ensure assets owned by Muslims and weaken their property rights under the Indian Constitution.
The Minority Minister of Minority, Kiren Rijiju, who presented the bill, said it would end corruption, poor management and examine the rules of property controlled largely by some Muslim families and elite groups.
The bill must “be seen as a” Pro Muslim reform, “he said.
Vote to decide Bill’s fate
A vote of the legislators of the Declaral Alliance and the opposition in the lower house will decide the fate of the bill later on Wednesday.
“It’s okay to reserve two positions on the WAQF board for non -Muslims, but does it mean that Muslims will get similar reserves at the Hindu temples meetings?” Kamal Farooqui asked, an official of the Muslim Personal Law Board of All India.
“The Modi government wants to control the Islamic Land Bank and have no right to undermine our institutions,” he said.
A 2006 report from the Sachar Committee appointed by the Government had urged a review of the WAQF meetings and property monitoring to generate greater yields for the Muslim community.
India will have the largest Muslim population for 2050, has predicted the PEW Research Center. However, the community, which represents around 13% of the population of India, delays the national average of indicators such as education, employment and political representation.
Muslim groups claim that the ruling party of Modi and Hindu affiliates of hard line since 2014 have promoted antiislamic policies, violent vigilantism and demolished properties owned by Muslims.
Modi and party officials deny accusations of religious discrimination.
