The Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Prof. Salim Engineer, has strongly criticized the conduct of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf and stated that Muslim organizations will adopt all legal means to resist attempts to usurp Waqf land through the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
During the JIH Monthly Press Conference at their headquarters, Prof. Salim Engineer said, “We strongly oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which threatens the religious and constitutional rights of Muslims. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was biased, ignored opposition voices, and disregarded objections from millions of citizens.
Despite such widespread opposition, the bill is being pushed through, making the consultative process appear meaningless and intended to deceive the public. The bill seeks to seize control of Waqf properties under the pretense of reform. Removing the ‘Waqf by user’ principle endangers longstanding religious sites, such as mosques and dargahs, opening them to litigation and potential state appropriation.
The bill disrupts the definition of Waqf, alters the roles of custodians, and curtails the independence of Waqf Boards. It infringes on Article 26, which protects religious minorities’ right to manage their institutions.
Waqf properties are not government assets, but religious endowments. The Waqf Boards and trustees are the custodians of Waqf properties, and any direct state control over their management will infringe upon their constitutionally mandated religious rights.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind urges all secular parties, including NDA allies and the opposition, to oppose this bill, which violates Articles 25, 26, 29, and 14 of the Constitution. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind calls on the government to withdraw the bill and focus instead on implementing existing Waqf laws effectively.
In the unfortunate event that the government passes the bill undemocratically, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, along with the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and other Muslim organizations, will resist these attempts by adopting all legal and constitutional means to secure the usurped rights of the Muslim community and protect their Waqf institutions and properties.”
JIH Condemns Mahakumbh Stampede And Calls For Better Crowd Management
Syed Tanveer Ahmed, National Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, addressed the tragic stampede during the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, which claimed the lives of many innocent devotees.
He stated, “Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is deeply saddened by the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, which has claimed the lives of many innocent devotees. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this moment of grief. This unfortunate incident underscores the urgent need for meticulous planning and crowd management in such large gatherings.”
“The safety and well-being of pilgrims must be the highest priority. Seamless arrangements for the common devotees must be ensured, and the administration should not neglect the fundamental responsibility of prioritizing their safety over special services and access for VIPs. The Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government must take responsibility and immediately address the shortcomings in their arrangements. The lives of ordinary pilgrims deserve the same level of care and protection as VIPs and special guests”, he further said.
Syed Tanveer Ahmed also pointed out attempts to suppress media coverage, stating, “We feel that there were attempts to unnecessarily gag the media and disallow any reporting that showed the government and administration in poor light or highlighted deficiencies in the Mahakumbh arrangements.”
“This high-handed approach prevented the media from critically analyzing the loopholes in managing the massive event, which could otherwise have alerted the government and administration to address those shortcomings in time, ensuring better preparedness and more effective crisis management”, Syed added.
He urged the authorities to take corrective measures and remain open, and transparent, allowing the media to do its job in preventing such tragedies in the future.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind also appreciated the efforts of individuals, particularly from the Muslim community, who made extraordinary efforts to save lives and assist thousands of Mahakumbh pilgrims.
“Many pilgrims were given refuge in mosques, and arrangements were made to provide them with food, blankets, and other necessities. Our leaders and the entire nation must draw inspiration from their actions in upholding communal harmony, brotherhood, and solidarity,” said Syed Tanveer Ahmed.
Prof. Salim Engineer Reviews The Union Budget 2025-26
Prof. Salim Engineer also provided a brief analysis of the Union Budget 2025-26. He acknowledged the positive aspects of the budget, such as income tax cuts, raising the rebate threshold to Rs 12 lakh, and adjusting tax slabs to benefit the middle class.
He also praised the budget for maintaining fiscal prudence, keeping the fiscal deficit at 4.4% of GDP despite a Rs 1 lakh crore revenue loss. The push for regulatory reforms, he said, would help ease doing business and support investment and trade.
However, Prof. Engineer expressed disappointment with several aspects of the budget. “Jamaat-e-Islami Hind had submitted its suggestions to the Finance Ministry before the budget, strongly advocating a shift from a supply-side strategy focused on business growth and tax incentives to a demand-side approach aimed at boosting citizens’ purchasing power, stimulating consumption, and enhancing welfare programs. Unfortunately, upon reviewing the Budget 2025-26, we found that most of our suggestions were ignored.”
He continued, “The Union Budget 2025-26 should have been expansionary. However, total expenditure has been reduced by almost one lakh crore, which will likely impact social spending and further exacerbate the plight of the poor.”
“We had recommended reversing MGNREGA cuts, introducing an urban employment scheme, increasing healthcare spending to 4% of GDP, and launching a comprehensive education mission with 6% of GDP allocation. Unfortunately, these issues remain unaddressed”, he said further.
Prof. Engineer also noted that the budget does not explicitly address minority upliftment, SC/ST empowerment, or agrarian debt relief, leaving crucial issues of social justice and equitable development unresolved.
“As can be seen from the Budget 2025-26, a large share of expenditure (20%) goes toward interest payments on debt. To avoid falling into a debt trap, we must make a bold move toward an equity-based finance model and an interest-free economy. We can start by incorporating an equity-based, interest-free banking window within conventional banks,” he suggested.
He concluded by urging the government to rise above partisan and vote bank politics and use the budget as an instrument for genuine economic reform that will benefit all citizens.
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