The All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) has extended its support to the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, stating that the move is necessary to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of Waqf properties.
Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow, Shaista Amber, President of AIMWPLB, welcomed the Centre’s initiative, saying that the amendment should have been brought long ago by previous governments and religious leaders.
“Positive work should be done. Earlier governments and religious leaders should have taken the step that the government has taken today,” she said.
She stressed that Waqf donations were intended to benefit the poor, but mismanagement and lack of transparency over the years led to widespread misuse.
“Those who donate to the Waqf, their intention is that their donation will be used for the poor… But it was not happening,” Amber noted. “It’s not that all the Waqf lands were misused, but the Waqf Board didn’t work honestly and did not do what they should have.”
Shaista Amber appealed to the BJP government to bring transparency to Waqf operations and protect the rights of Muslim women. She also demanded a thorough probe into illegal encroachments and misuse of Waqf land.
“None of the governments to date worked sincerely for the Muslims; they just did politics for votes. We request the BJP government to provide rights to women and ensure that Waqf lands are used for the poor with complete transparency,” she added.
Amber also launched a scathing criticism of past administrations:
“What other parties did till now? Were they asleep? I request the current government that whatever happened to date, they should now help free the lands of Waqf that have been illegally encroached. An investigation must be done, and action must be taken against the culprits,” she said.
Waqf Bill Passed in Both Houses Amid Key Absences
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha recently, despite intense criticism from Opposition benches. However, what has drawn sharp attention is the silence of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, both of whom were absent during the crucial debate.
While Rahul Gandhi did post a tweet condemning the Bill as a “weapon to marginalise Muslims”, he chose not to speak on the floor of the House when the Bill was debated in Lok Sabha. His sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Member of Parliament from Wayanad, was also absent during the discussion in both Houses.
Their absence has been noted not only by political observers but also by pro-Congress Muslim groups, including IUML-backed Suprabhaatham daily, which termed their non-participation a “blot”, especially considering the sensitivity of the issue among minorities in Kerala and beyond.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has now become law — with the government assuring that it aims to streamline Waqf administration, prevent misuse, and ensure equitable use of properties meant for the welfare of the underprivileged.
