Mehbooba Mufti Urges Nitish and Naidu to Oppose ‘Draconian’ Waqf Amendment Bill, as an ‘Assault on Minority Rights’

Srinagar, 31-01-2025: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has intensified her opposition to the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, reaching out to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, urging them to resist the legislation. In her letter, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister warned that the bill poses a severe threat to national unity and communal harmony, calling it an unconstitutional attempt to weaken the fundamental rights of the Muslim community.

Mufti expressed deep concern over the bill’s provisions, stating that it directly undermines the core purpose of the Waqf Act, which is to safeguard properties dedicated to religious and charitable causes for the Muslim community. She asserted that the proposed amendments seek to dilute these protections and could open the door for encroachment and misappropriation of Waqf assets.

“The bill comes at a time when, for the past decade, Muslims have been systematically disenfranchised, disempowered, and marginalized politically, socially, and economically,” Mufti wrote, as reported. She accused the government of disregarding the voices of opposition leaders and minority communities, arguing that the parliamentary consultation process had been reduced to a mere formality, without any sincere effort to engage with those who would be most affected.

Criticizing the bill as a direct assault on constitutional principles, Mufti warned that it reflects an increasing trend of majoritarianism that has fueled the marginalization of Muslims since 2014. She described the proposed legislation as “authoritarian” and “unconscionable,” emphasizing that it contradicts the democratic ethos of India.

Mufti also invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of an inclusive India, cautioning that the bill threatens the nation’s secular fabric. She urged Nitish Kumar and Naidu, both of whom hold considerable sway in the ruling NDA alliance, to use their influence to oppose the legislation.

“You have always been staunch believers in our Constitution and have consistently championed the spirit of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (composite culture). Today, as key members of the NDA, you are uniquely positioned to influence this matter and prevent this onslaught,” she wrote in her appeal to the two leaders.

The proposed Waqf Amendment Bill has already triggered widespread debate, with opposition parties and minority organizations strongly objecting to its provisions. Critics argue that the amendments are an attempt to weaken institutional protections for Waqf properties and could be used to erode minority rights under the pretext of reform.

        As the controversy surrounding the bill intensifies, Mufti’s outreach to Kumar and Naidu signals a broader effort to build opposition within the ruling alliance.