Tamil Nadu passed a resolution opposing the Union Government’s proposed changes to the Waqf Act. Chief Minister MK Stalin said these changes directly threaten the rights of minorities and weaken the powers of the Waqf Board.

Stalin stated that the amendments made by the BJP-led central government were intended to weaken the Waqf Board and interfere with the management of Waqf properties, which are traditionally governed by Islamic law for the welfare of the Muslim community. “This is against freedom of religion, this is hurting Muslim sentiments,” said Stalin. “The amendments say that any Waqf property identified by the government will not come under the Waqf Board. This is unacceptable,” Stalin said. “It also claims that Waqfs created by non-Muslims will be deemed invalid, which further adds to the confusion and mistrust.”

“This is not just a legal issue. It’s an attack on the constitutional rights of minorities and their institutions. We will continue to oppose this,” Stalin remarked. He mentioned that the proposed changes have faced strong opposition from the DMK and several other parties. As a result, the bill has been sent to the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) for further review. “There is growing fear among Muslims that this is yet another attempt to dilute the autonomy of their institutions,” Stalin added. Law Minister S. Regupathy supported Stalin’s views, questioning why people from other religions should be appointed to a religious body like the Waqf Board. He argued that such appointments might create governance problems and lead to mismanagement of Waqf properties.

On the other hand, BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan defended the amendments, saying that including non-Muslim members would improve transparency and accountability. She explained that the Union Government’s goal is to address ongoing complaints about irregularities in managing Waqf properties and ensure fair governance. “We want women to be a part of the Waqf Board,” she added, a proposal that AIADMK also welcomed.

The central government introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament in 2024 to address issues of regulating and managing Waqf properties under the Waqf Act, 1995. On March 19, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed a resolution asking the Centre to withdraw this bill. This led to a heated debate and a walkout by the Opposition BJP.