Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 4: In a forceful and emotionally charged intervention during discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Member of Parliament Gulam Ali on Thursday lent unequivocal support to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, describing it as a long-overdue corrective measure to safeguard the spiritual, social, and constitutional sanctity of Waqf properties in India.
Gulam Ali of BJP pulled no punches as he exposed decades of “organized loot and political interference” in Waqf institutions. “This Bill is not just a legal amendment—it is revival of a sacred trust, a religious and moral obligation,” he said, adding that Waqf in Islam is a continuous charity meant for the welfare of people, not a tool for political patronage.
Citing Quranic verses and prophetic traditions, MP Gulam Ali underlined the spiritual ethos behind Waqf and lamented its degradation due to corruption and misgovernance. “When Waqf made in the name of Allah ends up serving the interests of political families and land mafias, then reform is not just desirable, it becomes imperative,” he stated.
The MP, who also served on the Select Committee that reviewed the Bill, described the revelations during deliberations as “deeply disturbing.” He noted that Waqf Boards in several States had become hotbeds of corruption, with properties either encroached upon, leased out at throwaway prices, or sold altogether.
“In Karnataka alone, nearly Rs 2,000 crore worth of Waqf land has been lost. In Maharashtra and Delhi, grave misuse of authority led to the handing over of mosques and dargahs to private interests,” he alleged.
Taking direct aim at the Congress party, Gulam Ali accused successive Governments of turning a blind eye to these issues while exploiting the Muslim community for electoral gains. “The same party that appointed the Sachar Committee chose to ignore its findings when it came to implementing real reforms,” he said.
Gulam Ali strongly defended the Bill’s provisions, particularly the roles assigned to District Collectors for Waqf surveys and the checks on unlawful Waqf declarations, insisting they were designed to enhance transparency and inclusivity, not curtail religious rights. “This Bill ensures that Waqf remains an institution of the people, for the people,” he affirmed.
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