The opposition parties are concerned about the Waqf Amendment Bill, which aims to change the 1995 law controlling Waqf properties.

New Delhi: As the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill seeks the President‘s approval after passing both Houses of Parliament, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has joined the Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi‘s AIMIM as the third major opposition party to take on the bill in the Supreme Court. Opposition parties contend that the proposed legislation, which aims to modify the 1995 law managing Waqf properties, is biased and threatens Muslims.

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan said in his plea that the government’s intervention violates minorities’ rights to run own institutions and that the amendment will diminish Muslims’ religious autonomy. Nonetheless, the government has insisted that the measure will help Muslim women and guarantee openness in the administration of Waqf properties.

Mr. Khan contested the Waqf Amendment Bill’s constitutionality, claiming that it infringes upon multiple basic liberties of citizens, such as the freedom of equality, the management of religious matters, and the rights of minorities.

He said that the measure violates minorities’ rights to run their religious and philanthropic organizations, restricts Muslims’ religious and cultural autonomy, and permits capricious presidential intervention. His suit comes after two other opposition MPs, Asaduddin Owaisi and Mohammad Jawed, of the Congress, filed identical objections.

The law prejudices against Muslims by enforcing limits that are absent from the governance of other religious institutions, according to Mr. Jawed, a member of the joint parliamentary commission on the Waqf bill.

The law’s provision allowing non-Muslims to serve on state boards and Waqf councils is one of the main points of contention. According to Mr. Owaisi, this is a serious constitutional infringement and isn’t the instance with the Hindu Endowment Board or the Jain Endowment Board.

Speaking to NDTV yesterday, Mr. Owaisi claimed that the BJP is utilizing the vast majority in parliament to wage a war on Muslims by passing legislation that will ruin and take away all of their rights rather than reforms.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the bill, telling NDTV that it will increase transparency by holding Waqf boards responsible. He made it clear that no mosque or cemetery will be impacted in an effort to dispel concerns that the measure would seize Waqf sites.

After a contentious debate between the opposition and treasury benches, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf bill Thursday morning by 288 votes to 232. The Rajya Sabha then passed it with 128 votes in favor and 95 against. Following Friday’s weekly prayers, the bill’s approval triggered massive demonstrations in cities including Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Kolkata.