After the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by majority in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), many so-called secular leaders, advocating for the cause of the Muslim community, cried hoarse in the Parliament as well as outside it. They have been blowing hot and cold and criticising JPC chairman, Jagdambika Pal, without knowing that the present Government is only reforming the Waqf Board, not taking control of the land. The negligence and misdoings of the so-called caretakers and custodians of the massive Waqf property, who happen to be Muslims themselves is apparent. The politicians are creating an unnecessary hue and cry because nothing can impact the Waqf properties including the present amendment except the corrupt in-house Waqf officers and their stooges, owing to whose pernicious machinations by frittering away of the charitable properties, things have come to this pass.
Ironically, the list of encroachers, illegal occupiers and perpetrators of misappropriation of Waqf properties including the names of many big personalities and individuals, some of whom have been pleading the cause of Muslims, are also the culprits.
The Sachar Committee Report has unequivocally stated that the Waqf management needed a complete overhaul. Had the Waqf management run honestly then the major chunk of the requirement of the Muslim community for the widows, poor students at the school and higher education levels besides other requirements of the jobless and elderly would have been met. Besides, Waqf amendments have been initiated earlier as well for putting it on the right track from the wavered one. According to Government figures, at least 58,889 Waqf properties have been encroached upon while 13,000 properties have been under litigation. Of the 4,35,000 Waqf properties, the status is not clear and the Bill has also been made to give recognition to these.
Interestingly, just in Delhi, 77 per cent land belongs to the Waqf Board. This bill does not aim at taking control of these properties but bringing order to the haphazard disorder so that the poor and the destitute benefit.
How the Waqf Board has become an establishment deeply mired in corruption can be gauged from some land scams. Muslims are wary of interference in their religious affairs as the Waqf Amendment Bill will allow the inclusion of two women. As Bharat is a safe and secular haven for people from all the faiths, inclusion of Hindus and ladies should not be a big issue. Besides, digitisation will help restore many encroached Waqf properties and facilitate the increase in their rent.
The present Waqf system should be dissolved to make way for a Waqf management with honest people and responsible committees like,”Education Committee”, “Medical Committee”, “Widow Committee, “Madrasa Committee”, “Masjid Committee”, “Khanqah Committee”, “Political Affairs Committee” besides others. Muslims must ask the Government to help them restore their encroached prime property. It is high time that the entire Waqf system should be overhauled.
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