Non-Muslim members in Waqf boards is akin to reservations for them: Hyderabad MP

Asaduddin Owaisi criticizes Union government's amendment to Waqf legislation, comparing nomination of non-Muslim members to Hindu reservations.

The nomination of non-Muslim members to State Waqf boards, as per the Waqf legislation as amended by the Union government, is akin to providing reservations for the Hindu community, Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi said.

Mr. Owaisi was speaking to The Hindu soon after the massive public protest meeting held on Saturday night at Darussalam, which was organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in opposition to the new Waqf legislation.

“It is like giving reservations for the Hindu community in the Waqf boards,” Mr Owaisi said. “Also, what are the qualifications for them? None are prescribed. It is as if all qualifications should be for only Muslim members of the Waqf boards,” he added.

Mr Owaisi, who is the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, was referring to Section 14 of the amended Bill, which deals with the composition of State Waqf boards. The amendments prescribe that Muslim members be an ‘eminent scholar’ of Islamic theology, two members who are professionals with experience in business management, social work, finance or revenue, agriculture and development activities, and a member of the Bar Council of the State.

“How is it that all qualifications be for Muslims?” Mr Owaisi sought to know.

Touching upon other concerns, Mr. Owaisi said that given the state of affairs and the amendments, there continues to be a possibility that the Chairperson of a State Waqf board could be a non-Muslim.

“Not only are they making the inclusion of non-Muslims mandatory, but they can even have a majority of non-Muslims as members of the Waqf boards. Moreover, a chairperson of a board could be a non-Muslim. This itself is a blatant violation of Article 26 [freedom to establish and administer religious and charitable institutions, and also manage own affairs in religious matters],” Mr. Owaisi told The Hindu.