Two Indian states oppose BJP bill that undermines Muslims’ rights
Their legislatures describe proposed law as direct infringement on minorities’ rights
THE WORLDVIEW
March 27, 2025
FOLLOWING the lead of the Karnataka state legislature, Tamil Nadu’s legislative assembly passed a resolution on Thursday that urged the central government to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, calling it a direct infringement on the religious and property rights of Muslims.
Moving the resolution, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin accused India’s central government of “systematic discrimination” against minorities and the non-BJP-ruled states. “The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is yet another attempt by the Union government to interfere in the religious administration of Muslims,” he said. “This law increases government control over Waqf properties, undermines their autonomy, and threatens the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.”
The resolution asserts that the Bill “severely harms the rights and interests of the minority Muslim community” and demands its complete withdrawal. Stalin recalled that Tamil Nadu had already voiced its opposition before the Parliamentary Joint Committee but its call was ignored, leaving the state with no choice but to formally oppose it in the legislative assembly.
The chief minister framed the Bill as part of a broader pattern of exclusionary policies by the BJP government. “Whether it is the Citizenship Amendment Act, the imposition of Hindi, financial discrimination against non-BJP states, or anti-social justice policies like NEET and NEP — every action of the Union government targets specific communities,” he said.
Contentious provisions
Criticising the Bill’s key provisions, Stalin argued that it would create legal obstacles for Waqf institutions and strip them of their rightful autonomy. He highlighted several controversial changes, including: increased government control over the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, affecting their independent functioning; reclassification of Waqf properties, allowing the government to declare them as state property; religious restrictions on Waqf declarations, requiring individuals to have practised Islam for five years before designating property as Waqf; abolition of elections in State Waqf Boards, eliminating democratic representation; and mandatory inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards.
“These amendments do not just affect the Muslim community; they violate the very principles of religious freedom enshrined in our Constitution,” Stalin said. He warned that the Bill contradicts existing legal protections and sets a dangerous precedent for minority rights in India.
“By abolishing the Waqf Board’s authority to identify properties and transferring that power to the government, the Union is trampling upon Article 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees religious groups the right to manage their own affairs,” he added.
Growing opposition
Last week, Karnataka’s Law Minister H.K. Patil introduced a similar resolution in his legislature, stating: “This House unanimously urges the central government to take immediate action to respect the unanimous views of the country by immediately withdrawing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which contains provisions that violate the fundamental principles of the Constitution.” The resolution was ultimately approved despite opposition from BJP members of the assembly.
Meanwhile, prominent Muslim leader Asaduddin Owaisi warned that the Bill was an attempt to seize control of mosques from Muslims. He also urged political leaders Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan, and Nitish Kumar not to support the Bill, warning that Muslims in India “would remember their stance for all times to come.”