Waqf amendment bill to address mismanagement, encroachments: BJP

Jammu, Apr 4: J&K Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sat Sharma Friday said the new Waqf amendment bill would address mismanagement, irregularities and encroachments and would ensure that Waqf properties were protected and used as intended.

This was stated by Sat Sharma, president, J&K BJP while addressing a press conference at party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.

J&K BJP general secretary and the Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma; spokesperson Dr Tahir Choudhary and media incharge Dr Pardeep Mahotra accompanied Sat Sharma during the presser.

“On one hand, this law will prevent encroachments on Waqf land, this will also prevent its unlawful claims on other properties. It will benefit the poor people from the community by the judicious use of digitalized Waqf properties and their funds for the welfare of the community be it for education, healthcare, or religious purpose,” the J&K BJP president said.

“The passage of the Bill in the Lok Sabha with 288 votes and in the Rajya Sabha with 128 votes after marathon discussion was the beginning of a new chapter in the country. The majority of the Parliamentarians believes that this Bill is in the favour of the general masses and will help the poor members from Muslim Community by the judicious use of Waqf properties,” he claimed.

Sat Sharma reiterated that the multiple amendments in the Waqf Bill especially in 1995 and 2013, formed the very basis of this necessary amendment, as it gave rise to the inconsistencies in the functioning of the Board.

Citing examples, Sat Sharma said that Just before the 2014 general elections, Congress government transferred prime properties in VVIP Lutyens Zone to the Waqf Board. “Congress government trespassed the rights of people to use those properties via the government for the welfare of the general masses to benefit a few via the Waqf Property under Northern railways was given to Waqf under the vote bank and appeasement politics of the Congress which was aimed to divide the nation,” he alleged.

“In Karnataka, hundreds of acres of land were given on much less rent to benefit some. Similarly prime land was allotted on a rent of a few thousand rupees to build a five-star hotel. While the Waqf lands should have been used for the welfare of the poor, it worked for some influential people. On many occasions, Mutawallis (caretakers) failed to perform their duties, didn’t maintain any stocks, didn’t digitize, didn’t maintain records and never took substantial steps to remove the encroachments on Waqf lands,” the J&K BJP president said.

“After 2013, this law also enjoyed super-powers under which it could claim any land and the aggrieved could not approach the appropriate Court of Law against the Waqf Tribunal,” Sharma said and added, “The Bill proposes that no person can create a Waqf unless they are lawful owner of property.”

He accused the opposition parties of politicising the issue and asked them to recount upon the benefits of this amendment for the poor people from the Muslim community and those who were victimized.

Sat Sharma said that the amendment bill was brought to overcome such major aberrations to facilitate the effective functioning of Waqf Board, maintain the proper digitalized records of Waqf properties and protect the rights and the lands of aggrieved people.