New Delhi: The Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. But before this, there was a 12-hour discussion on this bill. During the discussion on the bill, there was a long debate between the ruling party and the opposition. During this, BJP MP from Puri, Odisha and party spokesperson Sambit Patra slammed the opposition and said that Waqf does not exist in many Islamic countries, whereas in India the Waqf Board has legal recognition. Even after that, why is there an uproar?
Sambit Patra said, 'I would like to tell the House the names of those Islamic countries where Waqf does not exist. There is no Waqf Board in Islamic countries like Turkey, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Tunisia, Iraq. Whereas there is a Waqf Board in India. Waqf property has been given legal protection in India. I want to ask why there is a ruckus even after that?'
Waqf Board came into existence for the first time in 1955
Waqf Board came into existence for the first time in the country in 1955. The Indian Parliament made a law in the name of Waqf Act 1954. An institution was legally formed to look after the land or property available in Waqf and this is called Waqf Board. A year after the law came into force in 1955, this law was amended and Waqf Board was formed in every state.
How did the idea of Waqf Board come?
Actually, when the country was divided in 1947, a large number of Muslims left the country and went to Pakistan. In such a situation, the land and properties of the people who went to Pakistan remained as they were. Then by forming a Waqf Board, the ownership of the lands and properties of the people who went to Pakistan was given to the Waqf Board through this law.
The claim of Waqf could not be challenged
Waqf Board exists in India but there is no such board in Islamic countries like Turkey, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Tunisia. India is the only country where lands were given to Muslims by forming a Waqf Board. That too, if a Waqf claims any land, then no person could challenge it in any court. The government says that in 1950, the Waqf Board had only 52 thousand acres of land in the entire country, which increased to 4 lakh acres in the year 2009. In 2014, it became 6 lakh acres and now in the year 2025, the Waqf Board has a total of 9 lakh 40 thousand acres of land in the country.
