A group of activists called the Joint Forum Against NRC has asked the Joint Committee of Parliament to take back the Waqf Amendment Bill. They made this formal request on January 21, 2025. The group argues that the bill changes important parts of the original Waqf Act, which guides how charitable and religious properties are managed. The coalition believes the proposed changes could hurt the independence and purpose of these special properties, known as waqf properties.
The Joint Forum Against NRC, known for their work on issues of fairness, says the Waqf Amendment Bill was created without enough input from the public. The group also thinks the bill could harm minority communities. Specifically, they are worried that the bill doesn’t do enough to keep waqf properties from being handled poorly. A representative from the group stated that the proposed changes would weaken the ability of Waqf Boards to manage these religious and charitable properties, which is their main responsibility.
Furthermore, the group’s letter to the parliamentary committee expressed concern about how the proposed changes were created. They feel the process lacked clarity and did not involve enough different voices. As it stands now, they believe the Waqf Amendment Bill creates more problems than solutions for managing waqf properties. They are worried these changes could negatively affect the people who depend on the support provided by waqf assets.
This action by the Joint Forum Against NRC shows they are still concerned about laws they think could hurt vulnerable people. Now, it’s up to the Joint Committee of Parliament to decide whether to listen to the coalition’s request to withdraw the bill. We can expect more discussions and possible changes to the bill. There will also likely be more public awareness about this issue as it moves forward. The goal is to achieve greater fairness and justice for all.