Waqf Bill debate heats up: Religious leaders take opposing stands

Malappuram/Varanasi: The proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill has triggered intense debate, with religious and political leaders voicing strong opinions on its implications.

In Kerala, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama President Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal urged secular parties to take a just stand as the bill moves through Parliament. He warned against "vicious propaganda and political exploitation" that could harm the constitutional values and communal harmony of the nation.

As the parliament convene today, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will move the Waqf Amendment Bill of 2025, which aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, for passing.

Responding to the development, Jifri Thangal said, “Waqf properties are donated in the name of Allah and cannot be sold or transferred. The Indian Parliament has laws in place to protect these properties. Any attempt to distort facts and enable encroachments must be resisted". He emphasized that Indian Muslims are keenly observing the positions taken by political parties on this issue.

Meanwhile, Hindu religious leaders have welcomed the bill, viewing it as a step towards reclaiming allegedly encroached land. Swami Jitendranand Saraswati, General Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, described the bill as the "beginning of a battle" against what he called post-independence land grabs via the Waqf Board.

“This is not the final fight; it starts today. Many properties were unfairly taken away under Waqf laws. This amendment is about reclaiming those lands,” said Swami Jitendranand Saraswati. Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya has also extended his support for the bill.