Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA government is preparing to amend the Waqf Act. A bill regarding these amendments may be presented in Parliament. Meanwhile, Syed Farid Ahmed Nizami, the Delhi President of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council (AISSC) and Sajjadanashin of Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, has issued a statement. He said, 'We will comment on the amendments once we see the draft. We have been demanding these amendments for a long time. We have been telling the current government that the existing Waqf Act does not protect the dargahs and their Sufi culture. We want either a separate Dargah Board to be established or the dargahs to be excluded from this act. The Waqf Act is for the benefit of the community. The government is here to listen to us. It is not right to oppose it without reading it.'
He added, 'Yesterday we met NSA Ajit Doval, and he listened to us. We also met Minority Minister Kiren Rijiju yesterday. He assured us that our concerns will be heard. When the bill goes to the select committee, they will take suggestions from us as well. They believe that protecting the Sufi culture of India is important. We hope that positive steps will be taken in this matter for the dargahs.'
Syed Farid Ahmed Nizami said that no one can say what is in the draft without reading the Waqf Act. If there is a shortfall, you can present it before the government.
'This is not an interference in Sharia, it does not diminish the power of the Waqf'
Former Vice-Chairman of the National Minority Commission Atif Rashid said, 'The Waqf Act was made in 1954. The then government completely changed it in 1995. Many amendments were made to the act in 2013. So, if an amendment is being made now, it should not be taken negatively. We should trust the government, which is dedicated to 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. According to the report, it seems that about 32 amendments are going to be made to the act. If it is about registration or judicial inquiry with the District Collector, what problem should anyone have with it? In 2013, an amendment was made that the government should map it every 10 years. This is not an interference in Sharia and does not diminish the power of the Waqf.'
According to sources, the Cabinet has approved a total of 40 amendments to the Waqf Act. Once these amendments are passed, the powers of the Waqf Board will be limited. The objective of these amendments is to restrict the Waqf Board's authority to designate any property as 'Waqf property'.
What is Modi Government's Plan?
The government aims to curb the powers of the Waqf Board to designate any property as 'Waqf property'. The objective of these amendments is to restrict the Waqf Board's authority to designate any property as 'Waqf property'. Claims made by the Waqf Board on properties will necessarily be verified. After the amendment bill is passed, there will be a significant change in the management and transfer of Waqf properties. Sources say the reasons for amending the law have also been mentioned. They cite the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Commission and the Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by K. Rahman Khan.
