In yet another attempt at shedding its secular image, India has passed a controversial bill that seeks to overhaul the governance of properties valued at billions of dollars -- assets generously donated by Muslims over centuries. The Modi administration has framed this move as essential to ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of these properties, but critics see it as yet another tactic to suppress the voice of the nation’s minorities, particularly Muslims. The Waqf Properties (Amendment) Bill has faced significant opposition, especially for its proposed changes to ownership rules. These modifications could affect numerous mosques, shrines and graveyards that have been historically maintained but lack formal documentation due to the absence of legal formalities in their original donation. The shift towards requiring valid documentation instead of accepting oral declarations or community use is a matter of concern and not only threatens the legitimacy of centuries-old properties but could also give the government undue control over assets long associated with religious and communal identity.
The Waqf system has been a cornerstone of Muslim charitable giving in India for centuries. Instead of dividing their wealth among heirs, many Muslims have chosen to donate their property to the welfare of the community through waqf, often making such declarations orally or through informal processes. The proposed bill, however, seeks to formalise these donations with documentation that many older waqf properties simply lack, raising the spectre of government interference. Critics argue that the bill will empower the government to gain unprecedented control over their religious properties. The proposed inclusion of non-Muslims on waqf boards, judicial intervention in disputes previously handled by waqf tribunals, and the creation of a centralised registry within six months all suggest an intrusive role for the government. These changes threaten to alter the delicate balance that has allowed India’s diverse communities to manage their religious affairs with a measure of autonomy.
Since Modi assumed power in 2014, there has been a noticeable shift in India’s political and cultural landscape. The country, once proud of its secular credentials, has gradually leaned towards Hindu nationalism, and the space for minorities has significantly shrunk. Muslims, as one of the largest minority groups, have borne the brunt of this shift. Violence and discrimination against the community have become disturbingly normalized, with right-wing Hindu groups increasingly targeting mosques, accusing them of standing on the remnants of ancient Hindu temples. Perhaps most symbolically, the Modi government recently inaugurated a temple built on the ruins of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya -- a mosque that was demolished by Hindu extremists in 1992. The new waqf bill, therefore, is emblematic of a deeper shift in the country's religious and political dynamics. Alienating one of India’s most important communities could have profound repercussions. India’s strength has always been its diversity; without a course correction, the country may well face a future where the very values the world cheered it on for could be at risk of being lost forever.