The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has appealed to secular parties, including friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill coming up for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha on April 2.

In a release, AIMPLB President Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani asked Members of Parliament to oppose the bill, declaring that it discriminates and runs contrary to Articles 14, 25, and 26 of the Constitution, which represent fundamental rights. Rahmani opined that the amendments proposed weaken Waqf legislation, opening up the way for seizure and demolition of Waqf assets.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, brought before the Lok Sabha in August, makes 40 changes to the current Waqf Act, including the provision of representation to Muslim women and non-Muslims on Waqf boards. Although the government contends that the bill aims to bring the Waqf system up to date with the 2006 Rajinder Sachar Committee's recommendations, opposition parties argue that it would negatively impact Muslim communities.

Rahmani noted that despite the Places of Worship Act, the number of disputes over religious sites has increased. He warned that by sanctioning the amendment, more government and non-governmental claims over Waqf property would be made, making it easy for the authorities to seize them. He feared that it would disturb communal harmony and result in social unrest.

AIMPLB's petition underscores the scandal that continues to surround the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and its likely implications on Waqf property and communal relations in India.