New Delhi, August 30: During a meeting of the BJP's Minority Morcha, some members expressed their displeasure to the Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been facing internal disagreements over the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill. The members voiced their concerns about the government's decision to present such a significant issue in Parliament without consulting them.

Further, they emphasised that this situation puts them in a difficult position when questioned by their community. Recently, the central government introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, proposing significant changes to certain rules. Waqf Act Overhaul: Bill To Amend Law Governing Waqf Boards To Be Tabled in Lok Sabha Today.

The Bill, introduced during the Budget session, proposed several changes including allowing a non-Muslim chief executive officer and at least two non-Muslim members to be appointed by the state government to the Waqf boards at the state level. It also proposed to make the District Collector the arbiter on whether a property is Waqf property or government land.

Following opposition from both the Opposition and some NDA allies, the government decided to refer the bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

Sources said that Minority Morcha had organized a workshop focused on membership, with Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in attendance. During the meeting, several leaders expressed concerns about the Waqf Amendment Bill. Waqf Act Overhaul: 32–40 Proposed Amendments To Curb Powers of Board; Aimed at Enhancing Inclusivity, Ensure Registration of Waqf Properties, Say Sources.

Several members questioned why the party's minority representatives were not consulted before bringing such a bill to Parliament. Additionally, these members pointed out that when such bills are introduced in Parliament, they often face tough questions from their communities. They urged the government to take steps to dispel any misconceptions surrounding the Waqf Bill.

Jamal Siddiqui, the President of BJP's Minority Morcha, acknowledged that concerns about the Waqf Amendment Bill were raised during the meeting, but emphasised that the discussion focused on the bill's positive aspects. He clarified that no party official opposed the bill, and the party would work to spread awareness about it.

Siddiqui also mentioned that several leaders highlighted issues related to the misuse of Waqf properties by mutawallis (custodians). Issues discussed included the construction of a hotel on 11 acres of Waqf land in Uttarakhand by BSP leader Akbar Ahmed Dumpy, the leasing of Delhi's Oberoi Hotel for just one rupee by a custodian named Madani, and the occupation of Waqf property on Ashoka Road in Delhi, among others.

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