Chennai: Through two demi official letters, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “completely withdraw” the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 and sought a meeting to be convened to discuss about delimitation exercise.
In the letter on Waqf Bill, Stalin said the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995, have not taken into consideration the constitutional protection given to minorities and are bound to severely harm the interests of the Muslim community. Earlier last week, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had adopted a resolution opposing the Bill.
“The provisions in the existing Waqf Act are time-tested and they provide protection to properties of the Waqf. The amendments proposed to the Waqf Act will weaken the powers and responsibilities of Waqf Boards in the management and protection of Waqf properties,” Stalin argued. He felt, the large-scale modifications proposed across a wide range of sections in the existing Act will dilute the very spirit of the Act itself. “For example, the proposed mandatory inclusion of two non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards will undermine the religious autonomy of the Muslim community’s ability to manage its religious and charitable endowments independently,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that removal of the ‘Waqf by user’ provision threatens the status of many historical Waqf properties.
“Since the existing Waqf Act, 1995, is adequate and has clear-cut provisions to safeguard the interest and properties of Waqfs, it is our view that there is no need for such far-reaching amendments to the existing Act,” Stalin contended.
In another letter, he sought an urgent response from the Prime Minister on a request for a meeting with him, alongside Members of Parliament from various political parties, on the issue of delimitation.
“I have requested a meeting with you, alongside MPs from various parties, to present our memorandum on the concerns surrounding the proposed delimitation. This follows resolutions from the Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation in Chennai,” Stalin said. “As previously mentioned, we urgently seek your time to convey our united stance on this critical issue for our people. Awaiting your earliest response,” he said.
