JD(U) but to clear its stance on controversial Waqf Invoice
After the Andhra Pradesh authorities’s determination to dissolve the waqf board within the state for being “non-inclusive” and “non-functional”, all eyes at the moment are on the Janata Dal (United)’s stance on the proposed invoice to amend the Waqf Act.
Each the Telugu Desam Social gathering, which heads the Andhra Pradesh authorities, and the JD(U) are allies of the Bharatiya Janta Social gathering (BJP) and companions within the ruling Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition.
Additionally learn: Defined: What’s the Waqf (Modification) Invoice, 2024?
In response to JD(U) functionaries, the celebration is within the means of collating responses and suggestions from the stakeholders earlier than presenting its stance to the joint parliamentary committee (JPC), which is inspecting the controversial laws and whose tenure has been prolonged until the final day of the funds session in 2025.
Rajya Sabha lawmaker and dealing president of the JDU, Sanjay Jha, mentioned Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has already met the representatives of the waqf boards within the state to hunt their response to the proposed invoice. The state has two waqf boards –– Bihar State Sunni Waqf Board and Bihar State Shia Waqf Board.
“The CM met all of the representatives and heads of the Sunni and Shia Waqf board, intellectuals and group leaders and requested them to spell out their considerations in regards to the proposed invoice that may be conveyed to the federal government and the JPC. It has been over a month now, however we’ve not acquired any recommendations or considerations from the group representatives,” Jha mentioned.
Additionally learn: Parliamentary panel seeks particulars of Waqf properties occupied ‘unauthorisedly’ by state governments
With the time period of the JPC now prolonged, Jha mentioned the celebration will, within the absence of any written response from the group, formalise its stance on the difficulty and current it earlier than the committee.
JD(U) leaders had earlier indicated that the celebration didn’t endorse the demand from group representatives to drop the Waqf (Modification) Invoice, 2024.
“A bit of celebration leaders have been initially of the view that provisions such because the inclusion of non-Muslims within the board was pointless, however up to now nothing has been formally communicated,” mentioned a second JDU chief.
The invoice that was launched in August and referred to the JPC, seeks to result in reforms, together with digitisation, stricter audits and authorized mechanisms within the governance of waqf boards, which handle Islamic charitable institutions.
Opposition events have expressed reservations in regards to the provisions of the invoice, however the authorities says the amendments are consistent with suggestions of the 2006 Rajinder Sachar Committee. It additionally says waqf boards presently management 870,000 properties spanning 940,000 acres throughout India with an estimated worth of ₹1.2 lakh crore.
On Sunday, the Andhra Pradesh authorities introduced that the state waqf board lacked illustration from each Sunni and Shia group members, in addition to former Members of Parliament along with a number of irregularities, together with the appointment of junior advocates to the Bar Council class with out correct standards.
“It’s a welcome transfer from the TDP; and we’re assured that not solely our different ally (the JDU), however a number of different events may also come round and assist the invoice. The false narrative towards the invoice is just like what was performed to create concern among the many minority group when the federal government moved the invoice to outlaw triple talaq,” mentioned a BJP member, requesting anonymity.
