MOHALI: Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu termed the amendments made in the Waqf Act by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government as unconstitutional and undemocratic, saying that this will increase the feeling of distrust, alienation and insecurity not only among Muslims but also among all minority communities in the country, which will create hatred instead of communal harmony in the country.
Sidhu, in a written statement issued here today, said that the Constitution of the country gives every religious community the right to maintain its religious places and properties associated with it, which the Modi government has taken away by opening the way for the nomination of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Boards. He said that these amendments will weaken the autonomy of the institutions of the Waqf Boards and increase government interference in it, which will open the way for misuse of the religious properties of the Muslim community.
He further said that with increasing government interference, the parties in control of the Waqf government will make appointments in the boards on the basis of political loyalty instead of merit, due to which these properties will be used for political gains instead of the welfare of the Muslim community.
The Congress leader said that some provisions in the amendments made by the government are such that they will help in capturing the properties of the Waqf Boards and consolidating the previous possessions. He said that some amendments have reduced the role of Waqf Tribunals and given more powers to civil courts to resolve property disputes, which will lead to delay in justice and further complications in Waqf related disputes.
Sidhu targeted the central government and said the government did not hold proper consultations with religious leaders, legal experts and national representatives of the Muslim community before making these amendments. He said that even in the meetings of the Joint Committee of Parliament, proper discussion was not allowed on these amendments. He said that the only aim of the government is to make a law against a Muslim community and please the majority of the country and get their votes.