Poor Muslims will gain from amended Waqf Act: NMC member Syed Shahezadi

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 14-09-2024

NCM member Syed Shahezadi with Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju

Raees Alam/New Delhi

As many Muslim leaders have spoken against the proposed law that seeks to amend the Waqf Properties Act, National Minority Commission member Syed Shahezadi has called for the right use of Waqf properties. She said that people waqf their property so that the poor can get its benefits. However, it has been seen that at present its benefits are limited to a few and their close relatives.

Syed Shahezadi told Awaz-The Voice in a special interview that through the proposed law the government wants the Waqf properties to be used properly and make its proceeds available to the needy.

“If the deserving Muslims are not benefited by the Waqf properties, then it’s not going the right way and defeats the basic purpose of someone’s pious and humanitarian act.”

However, she supported the rights of those protesting against the Waqf Amendment Bill, “They have a right to protest, Syed Shahezadi said. She appealed to Muslims to protest meaningfully and convey their opinions and ideas to the government in a peaceful manner.

NCM Member Syed Shahezadi in her office

She said that the government’s intention and purpose in bringing the Bill, which is being debated in the Jagdambika Pal-led Joint Parliamentary Committee, is to protect the interest of the poor and needy.

Syed Shahezadi also said that in many places poor Muslims are not getting benefits from Waqf properties, because the rent of the shops has not increased for many years. “Only a few special people are benefiting from this.”

She said that those who have studied the bill and understand the benefits that it will accrue to society are supporting the government, and not everyone is opposing it.

Shahezadi is one of the few women members of the NMC in its history. She hails from Hyderabad and has contested the elections to the State Assembly. She also served as the officiating head of the NMC till Iqbal Singh Lalpura was appointed its Chairperson.

Syed Shahezadi said that some Muslim organizations are seeking opinions from the people by creating a special type of QR code which is not the right way.

NCM Member Syed Shahezadi meeting the public in her office

The government says that this bill is in the interest of the Muslim community and this will make the maintenance of Waqf properties and the resolution of disputed properties easier.

Syed Shahezadi said that people must convey their opinions to the government so that when this law is enacted it incorporates all opinions and is in everyone's interest.

She stressed that there should be no politics on this issue.

Asked about the opposition to this bill by Zakir Naik, she said she doesn’t want to talk about him.

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When asked whether she would talk to the government on this issue on behalf of the public, she said that she has not received any instructions in this regard yet.