‘Amendment will strengthen council’

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Salman Khurshid

Amid reservations of Muslim organisations on the proposed amendment to the Central Waqf Act, minorities affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday said the government by proposing the bill, is trying to give more powers to the Central Waqf Council.
“Efforts are being made to empower the Waqf Council so that it can decide on the properties related issues of Waqf Board,” Mr Khurshid said, referring to the proposed legislation while addressing a gathering of All-India Qaumi Tanzim’s national council meeting here. Advocating the proposed bill without commenting on the reservations expressed by Muslim organisations, he said necessary provisions have been made in the legislation to give more powers to the Central Waqf Council.
The bill is pending with the Upper House of Parliament after it was approved by the Lok Sabha last year.
“Currently the bill is in the Rajya Sabha. Necessary provisions have been made in it to give more powers to Central Waqf Council. Once the bill is passed, the Waqf Council would be able to interfere in the issues related to its properties,” Mr Khurshid said.
The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) had openly criticised the bill last month during its meetings in Hyderabad.
AIMPLB has demanded that its reservations must be addressed before the bill is presented in the Rajya Sabha for voting.
Besides the amendment bill, Mr Khurshid also spoke on the scholarship scheme for children from the Muslim community. He said last year almost 60 lakh children from the minority community benefited from the scholarship.
He said the government, through the Sachar Committee and its 15-point programme, has taken a noble initiative to uplift the minorities.
Speaking on the occasion, president of the All-India Qaumi Tanzim, Mr Tariq Anwar, praised the Prime Minister’s 15-point programme.