Majority Backs Modi Government’s New Waqf Bill: It has already, in a major development, come to the fore that there is overwhelming support for the proposed amendment to the Waqf Act by the Modi government. In a recent survey conducted by Local Circles, 90% of over 47,000 citizens polled are in support of amending the Waqf Act to bring in more transparency and accountability. This would reflect a kind of unanimity between the cross-sections for reforms in Waqf properties management in India, underlining the demand at hand.
A very major provision in the proposed bill itself has also seen a unanimous consensus of findings, where it is very important for 96% of all respondents that properties be registered with the district collectors by all Waqf boards.
This was supposed to ensure proper records and also prevent the misappropriation or illegal occupation of such properties. Thus, reform and modernization promised by the government under the Modi administration pushed this new legislation along in correcting serious long-standing issues in the way waqf properties, which are charitable endowments under Islam dedicated to either a religious purpose or a charitable one, are governed. This is so because the current Waqf Act lacks mechanisms that warrant proper supervision and accountability.
As a consequence, cases of corruption and mismanagement are rampant. The promised amendments are set to bring forth much-needed change, with the management of the Waqf properties made as transparent as possible. Statistics indicate that 34,540 were Hindus while 7,213 were Muslims; this purports evidence of greater support for the proposed changes. This makes the winning of diverse support another vital ingredient, since it illustrates that the movement toward reform is not a single community but instead made up of a collective will for good governance and justice.
In many ways, it is seen by the Modi government as empowering the commoners with the protection of their religious endowments and utilizing those very purposes for what they were meant to be.
The amendment would thus try to bring confidence and coordination between the communities for developing a more representative and transparent atmosphere in the management of Waqf properties. The government’s initiative on Waqf reforms forms part of its general policy of good governance and accountability, reflective of its commitment toward building an equitable society. The fact that so many turned up in the support of the new Waqf Bill is indicative of the fact that people long for change.
It reflects pent-up, mass yearning for a system that secures community assets, enhancing its usefulness and stopping its exploitation. The government thus sets a good precedent for more such reforms to establish fairness and transparency regarding disposal and management of public and community properties. Here, at that juncture, the journey of India toward inclusiveness and equity saw people of various faiths and backgrounds united together for a cause. This is definitely an inspiration full testimony to the power of collective will toward shaping an enlightened and just future for all. It lends credence to reforms promised by the Modi government, such as the new Waqf Bill proposal, leading on to a more transparent, accountable, and harmonious society.
