Pressure mounts on Modi government against changes to Indian Waqf laws

ANKARA

Pressure is mounting on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi against proposed changes to Waqf laws that would expand government control over Waqf properties.

Lawmakers in southern Tamil Nadu state passed a resolution against a proposed bill pending in the federal parliament, saying it would affect the minority community of Muslims, which constitute around 14% of 1.4 billion Indians.

Waqf refers to land or property endowed by a Muslim for religious, educational, or charitable purposes.

The resolution was passed in the state which is ruled by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party amid protest by the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) members on Thursday.

Chief minister of the state, M K Stalin, said the proposed law is against the freedom of religion and demanded the federal government should recall the proposed bill.

This week, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a leading Muslim organization in India, announced a nationwide campaign against a proposed law that would expand government control over Waqf properties.

On Wednesday, a massive protest was held in the state of Bihar as part of the campaign announced by the body.

The bill, initially met with resistance from opposition parties, was referred to a joint committee of parliamentarians, which has now presented its report. The legislation is expected to be reintroduced in the ongoing parliamentary session.

While the Muslim body asserts that the bill has been entirely rejected by the community as "undemocratic," the ruling BJP, led by Modi, argues that the legislation aims to ensure “accountability and transparency.”

The central government has called a meeting of all lawmakers on Wednesday to discuss the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in detail.