No meaningful consultation held on Waqf Bill: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq criticizes lack of consultation on Waqf Bill, opposes government control of religious properties, and calls for Kashmiri Pandits' return.

Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said on Sunday (February 16, 2025) that there was “no meaningful consultation with stakeholders before the Waqf Bill was presented in Parliament.”

“No meaningful consultation was conducted with key stakeholders before presenting the Bill in Parliament. It was being implemented without due discussion. This move would place mosques, Imam Baras, and other Waqf properties under government control, a development I firmly oppose,” the Mirwaiz, who attended a function in Budgam, said.

The Mirwaiz, who met the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill in Delhi last month, said the proposed Waqf Bill “disregards the sentiments of the Muslim community and threatens the autonomy of religious institutions.” “Concerns of Muslims were overlooked in the Waqf Bill,” he added.

The Mirwaiz’s statement came a day after Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju suggested that amendments to the Waqf Bill were for the “welfare of poor Muslims and not to grab Waqf property.”

Meanwhile, the Mirwaiz also strongly criticised statements by National Conference leaders supporting the sale of liquor in Jammu and Kashmir for tourism and revenue purposes. 

“J&K has always been a renowned tourist destination and does not require alcohol sales to boost tourism. This approach of the NC is highly irresponsible,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Hurriyat chairman reiterated his plea to migrant Kashmiri Pandits “to return to Kashmir.” “The return of Kashmiri migrants should be guided by inclusivity and mutual understanding,” he added.