New Delhi:
President Droupadi Murmu gave his consent to the Waqf bill (amendment) which was adopted by the two chambers of Parliament after heated debates.
The new law was challenged at the Supreme Court by the Congress, Aimim and the Aam Aadmi (AAP) party with separate petitions.
The new law aims to stop favoritism, the abusive use of WAQF properties and encroachments on WAQF assets. The government in power National Democratic Alliance (NDA) said that the law was not anti-Muslim.
The amendment was introduced after six months of discussions, in particular the training of a joint parliamentary committee.
In Rajya Sabha, the bill was adopted with 128 members voting in favor and 95 opposing it. He was passed at Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting him and 232 against him.
The deputy for the Congress Mohammad Jawed, the deputy for Aimim Asuaddin Owaisi and the deputy Aap Amanullah Khan deposited the petitions before the Supreme Court. Although they have given many reasons to deposit petitions, some municipalities include allegations according to which the WAQF bill (amendment) – now an act – was “discriminatory towards Muslim” and was a “blatant violation of the fundamental rights of Muslims”.
The new law also faces demonstrations by the Muslim Personal Law Council of all India (AIMPLB). He announced campaigns and demonstrations across the country, focusing on what she called “counter-information” and “promote peaceful activism”.
The government, however, argued that the law will benefit Muslim women and will ensure transparency in the management of WAQF properties.
Defending the bill, the deputy for the BJP, Ravi Shankar Prasad, told NDTV that he would bring transparency by making the Waqf responsible advice. Seeking to appease the fears that the law removes the properties of the WAQF, he said that no mosque or cemetery would be affected.
