Mirwaiz expresses concern over proposed amendments to Waqf Act
Srinagar: Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has expressed concerns over the proposed amendments to Waqf Act.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressing the large Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar warned of potential disempowerment of Muslims and interference in religious matters and called for vigilance and resistance against the discriminatory laws.
He said that the Indian government introduced a Bill in the parliament seeking to amend the Waqf Act, and bring sweeping changes to how Waqfs are governed and regulated, causing great anguish and concern to the Muslims in India and naturally in Muslim majority occupied Jammu and Kashmir where most of mosques, shrines and Khanqas come under the Wakf board.
He said many controversial provisions have been proposed, including changing the composition of the board, adding non Muslims will now be made part of the board and a non Muslim can even be made the CEO of board, which is a direct interference in religious matters.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that in the proposed Bill one has to be a Muslim for at least five years to wakf his/ her property which is ridiculous .
Further, he said, a district collector will now make the decision in case of dispute on the final status of the wakf land -whether it is wakf property or government land.
Mirwaiz said unfortunately the agenda of this government seems to persist in disempowering Muslims and use them as polarising agents for electoral purposes.
“We are closely monitoring this issue and will take it up in the next Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU ) meeting,” he concluded.
