New Indian bill proposes to revamp Muslim land management, faces backlash

Record ID: 1987798

  • Title: New Indian bill proposes to revamp Muslim land management, faces backlash
  • Date: 2nd April 2025
  • Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (APRIL 02, 2025) (ANI - No use India) (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SPOKESMAN OF ALL INDIA MUSLIM PERSONAL LAW BOARD, S.Q.R ILYASI, SAYING: "If this bill is passed in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (lower and upper house of parliament) despite our efforts, then it is not the end for us. Instead, it will be the beginning of our movement. We will launch a nation-wide c
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: India Islam Kiren Rijiju Muslims Waqf bill land parliament property religion
  • Location: NEW DELHI/PUNE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
  • City: NEW DELHI/PUNE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA002M2YCKEN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The Indian government on Wednesday (April 02) presented a bill in parliament that plans sweeping changes in the management of vast tracts of land set aside solely for Muslim use, potentially stoking tensions between the government and minority Muslims.
    The land and properties fall under the "waqf" category, which means "to stay" in Arabic, and are endowed by a Muslim for religious, educational or charitable purposes. Such land cannot be transferred or sold.
    Government and Muslim organisations estimate that over 25 waqf boards hold nearly 85,1535 properties and 900,000 acres of land, putting them among the top three landowners in India.
    The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, proposes inclusion of non-Muslim members in the central Waqf Council and waqf boards and will enable the government to determine ownership of disputed waqf properties.
    The legislation comes amid tensions between the Muslim community and Modi government.
    Opposition lawmakers and Islamic groups see the bill as a plan to secure assets owned by Muslims and to weaken their property rights under the Indian constitution.
    Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who tabled the bill, said it would end corruption, mismanagement and examine ownership rules largely controlled by some Muslim families and elite groups.
    The bill should "be viewed as a "pro-Muslim reform," he said.
    A vote by ruling alliance and opposition lawmakers in the lower house will decide the fate of the bill later on Wednesday.
    "This bill is discriminatory, unconstitutional, it targets a particular community and it has been brought with a communal agenda," said S.Q.R Ilyasi, a spokesman of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
    A 2006 report by the government-appointed Sachar Committee had urged an overhaul of waqf boards and monitoring of properties to generate higher returns for the Muslim community.
    India is set to have the world's largest Muslim population by 2050, the Pew Research Center has forecast.
    Yet the community, which makes up about 13% of India's population, lags the national average on indicators such as education, employment and political representation.
    Muslim groups allege Modi's ruling party and hardline Hindu affiliates since 2014 have promoted anti-Islamic policies, violent vigilantism and demolished Muslim-owned properties.
    Modi and his party officials deny religious discrimination allegations.
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