Mayawati Opposes Waqf Amendment Bill, Vows BSP Support for Muslim Community Against Govt Misuse

Friday,04 April 2025

BSP leader Mayawati condemned the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as unconstitutional and an unacceptable intervention in mosque, madrasa, and Waqf affairs. The former UP Chief Minister criticized both the central and Uttar Pradesh governments, urging on X that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee for further review.

Mayawati said, "The Centre and the UP government are interfering too much in the affairs of mosques, madrasas, and Waqf, and they are taking too much interest in religious institutions like temples and monasteries. This is against the Constitution and its secular ethos. Does this sort of selfish politics become necessary? The government needs to attend to its duties towards the nation."

She also emphasized that the Congress and BJP have been winning votes by playing the religion and caste card, but now it is time to focus on key issues such as safeguarding reservations, and addressing poverty, unemployment, inflation, and backwardness.

Mayawati criticized the central and Uttar Pradesh governments on Thursday, arguing that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill represents unconstitutional "forceful interference" in mosque, madrasa, and Waqf property matters.

On a series of tweets on X, the ex-Uttar Pradesh chief minister recommended that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which had been introduced in the Lok Sabha that morning, be referred to the Standing Committee for further examination. She said, "The central and UP government are excessively entering into the activities of mosques, madrasas, and Waqf, and taking an excessive interest in religious institutions like temples and monasteries. This is against the Constitution and its secular values. Is this sort of selfish politics necessary? The government must address its national duties."

Mayawati further suggested that Congress and BJP have been gaining politically on the issues of religion and caste. She also underlined the fact that now is the time to focus on significant concerns such as reservation, and combat poverty, joblessness, price rise, and backwardness.

She proposed sending the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to the Standing Committee for more review because of the concerns people have expressed. She also warned the government not to quickly pass this kind of important law.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes to delete Section 40 of the current law, which empowers the board to decide whether a property falls under Waqf property.

One of its objectives is to facilitate the registration of Waqfs with the use of a centralized online portal and database.

A clear mechanism has been established for change of ownership of properties under revenue regulations, and proper notice is sent to all the parties involved prior to any change in property status as Waqf property.

The Wakf Act 1995 has been formulated in order to control 'Auqaf' (properties which have been given in donation and put into Waqf) by a 'wakif' (an individual who dedicates property for Muslim law purposes acceptable as religious or charitable).

The latest revision to this legislation was accomplished in 2013.