Reacting to the reports of Centre’s plan to amend the Waqf Act, AIMIM leader and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi attacked the Modi government saying it has always been on the agenda of RSS and BJP to do away with the Waqf Act. He also accused the BJP government of going ahead with their Hindutva agenda.

In a significant move that can cause huge response from political parties and religious groups, the union government is set to introduce a bill in Parliament proposing amendments to the Waqf Act, aimed at curbing the extensive powers of Waqf Boards to declare any property as a Waqf asset.

The proposed changes, according to reports, which include around 40 amendments, seek to enforce mandatory verification of properties before Waqf Boards can claim ownership. These measures are designed to address concerns about the arbitrary powers currently held by these boards, which oversee assets worth lakhs of crores across India. The bill also proposes restructuring Waqf Boards and ensuring representation for women in these bodies.

Earlier, while speaking to news agency ANI, the Hyderabad MP accused the central government of acting against parliamentary supremacy and privileges and informing the media and not informing Parliament as the Houses are in session.

“I can say that whatever has been written in the media about this proposed amendment shows that the Modi government wants to take away the autonomy of the Waqf Board and it wants to interfere… This itself is against the freedom of religion. The second thing is that the BJP has been against these boards and Waqf properties from the very beginning and they have a Hindutva agenda…,” Owaisi said.

He also said, with the Now amendments to the establishment and composition of the Waqf board, then there will be an administrative chaos, loss of autonomy of the Waqf board and if the control of the government increases over the Waqf Board, then the independence of Waqf will be affected.