The Narendra Modi government seems to have gathered some much-needed support from the right quarters just before Thursday when it is speculated to bring a bill that is set to regulate Waqf Boards. On Monday, when many Indian politicians were glued to their television sets watching what was unfolding in neighbouring Bangladesh, a delegation of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council (AISSC) comprising the most prominent sajjadanashins (spiritual heads) from various dargahs across India met union minister for minority affairs Kiren Rijiju and extended support for the proposed changes that will curb the powers of Waqf Boards.
The delegation met Riijiju and BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla under the leadership of Syed Naseruddin Chishty, who is the chairman and successor of the present spiritual head of the Ajmer Dargah, to discuss a range of significant issues concerning the Muslim community.
Rijiju himself posted a video on social media site X on Tuesday morning to say that they “lauded & praised the efforts” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards the “welfare of the entire community and minorities in general”. What the minister seems to have avoided saying is there was unanimous backing for the proposed changes the government is planning to bring.
Sources suggest they spoke on the proposed Waqf Act amendments adding that they were in favour of this for the sake of transparency and accountability. Sources said that Naseruddin Chishty recounted how dargahs are being left to fend for themselves and the cash-rich Waqf Boards haven’t extended a helping hand while others joined in.
The delegation highlighted how the current Waqf system has “victimised the dargahs and Muslims”, making them question how despite having large tracts of properties, the Waqf bodies showed their earnings as only less than Rs 200 crore. A source said, “In the meeting, there was a unanimity that Waqf Boards are using their clout for the rich and are essentially anti-poor Muslims who form vast sections of Muslim society.”
Apart from Naseruddin Chishty, those present in the crucial meeting were Ghulam Najmi Farooqi of the Nayeb Sajjadanashin Dargah, Abdul Qadir Qadri, Syed Ali Zaki Hussaini who hails from the Dargah Gulbarga Shareef, Ammhar Ahmad Nayar Miya of Sajjadanashin Rudauli Shareef in Uttar Pradesh, Fareed Ahmed Nizami of the Sajjadanshin Dargah Nizamuddin Auliya, Arshad Faridi of Nayab Sajjadanashin Dargah in Fathepur Sikri, Javed Khan who is secretary, AISSC, and Umar Razzaqui Sajjada Nasheen of the Dargah Bansa Shareef in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki. BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was also present.
Sources say the clerics particularly lauded PM Modi for his leadership in challenging times when India’s immediate neighbourhood including Bangladesh has been witnessing political unrest.
Waqf Boards have approximately 8.7 lakh properties totalling around 9.4 lakh acres in the country. In 2013, the UPA government gave more power to the Waqf Boards by amending the original Act. The Waqf Act, of 1995, was enacted to regulate ‘auqaf’ (assets donated and notified as Waqf) by a wakif—the person who dedicates a property for any purpose recognised by Muslim law as pious, religious, or charitable.
The proposed amendments will make the claims on properties made by Waqf Boards mandatorily verifiable, giving better representation to women in Waqf Boards, and involving district magistrates in monitoring Waqf properties to prevent misuse of the assets.
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