A prominent Muslim leader has voiced concerns about the government’s handling of the Waqf Amendment Bill. Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, criticized the central government for excluding Barelvi scholars and organizations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee, or JPC, discussions. This committee was formed after the initial bill failed to gain support in Parliament. The Barelvi community is a significant and influential group within India’s Muslim population.
According to Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, the JPC has held meetings across the country. These meetings took place in major cities like Delhi, as well as states such as Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. However, he argues that the JPC has consistently ignored the Barelvi community in these discussions. This exclusion, he says, is problematic since the Barelvi community’s concerns about the bill are important.
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi emphasized the lack of representation by stating, “They have ignored Barelvi scholars and Barelvi organizations in all the meetings.” He also expressed apprehension that overlooking the viewpoints of Barelvi leaders could lead to an incomplete understanding of the issues involved in the bill. This, in turn, might negatively impact the final law. The Waqf Amendment Bill has been a subject of much debate between the government and various Muslim organizations.
The JPC, led by Jagdambika Pal, will continue its work, and its decisions will have consequences for the future of Waqf properties. These properties are managed as religious endowments throughout India. It’s possible that the bill could become even more complicated if the concerns of Barelvi organizations are not addressed. This situation highlights the need for inclusive dialogue when crafting laws that affect diverse communities.