Tamil Nadu Assembly passes resolution to oppose Centre's Waqf Amendment Bill

While introducing the resolution, Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the bill “will badly affect Muslims”.

“The Union Government is trying to amend the Waqf Bill, which will hinder the Waqf Board’s powers. This is hurting Muslim sentiments, and the Union Government does not bother about it,” Stalin said.

 

The resolution said that people live in religious harmony in India, and the Constitution has provided rights for everyone to follow their religion.

“The elected governments have the right to protect it. The Assembly unanimously insists that the Union Government should recall the Waqf Amendment Bill in 2024 for the Waqf Act 1995, which will badly affect the minority Muslims to be withdrawn,” the resolution reportedly reads.

Opposition criticises the resolution:

Opposing the resolution, BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan said, “Any elected government has the power to bring any amendments. The central government has the authority to bring the amendments. We have opposed the resolution and walked out of the assembly...”

Meanwhile, AIADMK National Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said, “Looks like DMK is in a hurry to set a narrative based on religion, language....”

“... Why are the parties whose members are in the JPC not challenging Waqf in the judiciary?...why there is a rush to pass a resolution in the Assembly?...trying to instigate people...for vote bank politics is highly condemnable,” he said.

Amendment in Waqf Bill:

The BJP-led government introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha in August, which aims to revise the structure of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards by including non-Muslim members.

The bill proposed replacing the Survey Commissioner with the Collector, granting them authority to survey Waqf properties.

It stated that government property identified as ‘Waqf’ will cease to be Waqf, and the finality of the tribunal’s decision was revoked and provided for direct appeal to High Courts.

The bill was referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), whose report was adopted by the Parliament in February 2025.