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The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8.
In its speech, the ASI talked about nearly 130 monuments and properties that have been in dispute over the past few decades. However, lawmakers from both the opposition and ruling parties disputed these claims.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill met again on Friday in the presence of several officials from the Cultural and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
In its speech, the ASI talked about nearly 130 monuments and properties that have been in dispute over the past few decades. However, lawmakers from both the opposition and ruling parties have questioned these claims. A senior MP from the ruling National Democratic Alliance asked if the properties had been disputed for decades, what had been done about it and why no attempts were made to go to court? The MP asked why the dispute could only be resolved by passing this bill.
In addition, culture ministry officials said the waqf can lay claim to any property it likes. In response, angry opposition lawmakers said Interior Ministry officials should only state facts and should not share concocted and untrue details. Sources said that some MPs said that “these details came from WhatsApp University”.
In fact, senior lawmakers also asked culture ministry officials if they understood the seriousness of appearing before the committee, as sharing any false information could lead to a privilege motion against them.
The opposition said the ASI operates within a legal framework that reserves and protects the rights of religious groups to conduct religious worship and rituals, even in monuments declared protected under relevant regulations.
The ASI did not seek any statutory changes in the laws relating to Hindu religious endowments, which regulate Hindu religious places of worship and bring within its ambit several ancient sites of heritage value that also have religious significance. An opposition lawmaker pointed out that sources said this selective approach by the ASI exposed the political bias of the agency operating under the current dispensation.
Apart from the Telangana State Waqf Board, Zakat Foundation of India and Interfaith Alliance for Peace were also present at the expert panel meeting on Friday. All religious and communal organizations present at the committee meeting so far, including those from Telangana on Friday and those from Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in the previous meeting, have opposed the bill, saying Essentially “anti-Muslim”.
On August 8, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. .
