Waqf Amendment Bill : Live Updates From Lok Sabha

Harsimrat Badal also opposes the Bill; says how the Gov acquired Sikh religious Gurudwaras, they are doing the same for Muslims. Calls the Gov "tukde-tukde" gang.

Harsimrat says the Gov did the same against Christians in Manipur; Chair responds that the Manipur matter is sensitive and her remarks should be expugned.

Surya says the concept of waqf by user, oral waqf and Section 40 created a "potent cocktail" which meant any property can be declared as waqf.

Tejaswi Surya (BJP) calls the 1995 Act a  "frankenstein monster".

Surya says he comes from Karnataka, where in one district, waqf claimed 15,000 acres of land

Surya says Congress Gov has double stands of secularism. When they introduced the Places of Worship Act in 1991, but they created a legal bar on Hindu community to claim any place of worship but they introduced the 1995 Act which allowed the Muslims community to claim any property as waqf.

S. Jothimani, INC asks how the Muslims will prove they are practising Muslims for 5 years?

Choudhary says for Muslims, the Gov wants non-Muslims to be added to maintain the secular nature but they specifically mentioned that in the Ram Janbhoomi Trust, if there is a district officer, he must be Hindu

Iqra Choudhary, SP, says omission of waqf by user clause will amount to a lot of poor people becoming homeless. She says if a property has been used for charitable purposes,it will be considered as waqf by user. She says the waqf by user concept is not just limited to Muslims, it extends to all other religious on grounds benefits are given based on charitable nature of the trust

Choudhary adds that although the amendment has been accepted that waqf by user will be prospective, but there is a proviso which says if the waqf status is contentious, its waqf status will cease to exist

Choudhary also questions the intention behind applying the limitation act when it does not apply to any other religious trusts.

Dr Mohammad Jawed, INC, says the Gov wants to take away the waqf properties from Muslims, and the proposed changes will cause more conflict and litigation in the country.

He particularly says that the JPC failed to have clause by clause discussions and did not provide the essential documents

Jawed says Gov claims they will give women representation but the Parent Act already has that provision. He says he looked online on various waqf board where Muslim women are already there as members

Amit Shah says Muslims can register their trust under the Indian Trust Act and it is not compulsory that one has to go through the waqf law as it can be done through the Charity Commissioner.

Amit Shah clarifies that the Bill and its provisions are prospective in nature

Amit Shah clarifies the authority of the Collector. He says there is nothing wrong that the Collector inquires who owns the property because that is what the law mandates.

Amit Shah says if the UPA Gov had not introduced the 2013 Amendment, there would not have been a need to introduce the 2024 Bill