Hyderabad: Asaduddin Owaisi, President of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has charged the Modi government with attempting to seize control of Waqf properties from the Muslim community through proposed amendments to the Waqf Act.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Owaisi criticized the amendments, which he said would undermine the autonomy of the Waqf Board and empower the executive branch to resolve disputes over Waqf properties a role traditionally held by the judiciary. He argued that these changes would not only lead to the loss of Muslim community properties but also infringe on religious freedoms.

The AIMIM leader highlighted concerns that the amendments would create chaos within the Waqf Boards, increase government interference, and potentially open doors for encroachers to illegitimately claim Waqf properties. Owaisi, referencing a Supreme Court verdict, reiterated that Waqf properties are inalienable, stressing that once designated as Waqf, these properties remain so permanently.

Further amplifying the critique, AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) of targeting Muslim properties as part of a broader Hindutva agenda. The proposed legislative changes, which include mandatory verification of property claims and alterations to the structure of Waqf Boards, have sparked significant opposition from Muslim leaders and community members who view them as an attack on their rights and practices.

The discussion in the Indian government regarding these 40 amendments remains ongoing, with significant implications for the management and control of Waqf properties across the nation.