Aimim Chief Asaduddin Owaisi. File | Photo Credit: PTI
Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) criticised the Union government for undermining the spirit of federalism by clearing the decks for the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025.
Mr. Owaisi was speaking at a public meeting organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in Nalgonda to oppose the legislation.
“This law is not meant to protect waqf properties, but to loot them. All rule-making powers have been vested with the Government of India. What role will the State governments have? Will they make pickles? Law making and framing rules are the responsibilities of the States, but you have taken that away. This goes against federalism,” he said.
Reaffirming the AIMPLB’s commitment to resisting the legislation, Mr. Owaisi emphasised that the ongoing protests were not directed against any faith, but were an assertion of the Muslim community’s right to practise its religion. He emphasised that waqf was a matter of worship.
“You and I must remain united. We must abide by the programmes of the AIMPLB. Our protest will continue. This law must be withdrawn,” he said.
Mr. Owaisi, who is also the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), also criticised the proposed applicability of the law of limitation to waqf properties. “This means that if a property belonging to a temple in Nalgonda is encroached upon for 25 years, it still does not become the encroacher’s. But Modi is telling Muslims that if someone encroaches upon a waqf property and has been in possession for 12 years, that property will be given to him. What kind of justice is this?” he asked.
He dismissed claims by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the legislation enjoys widespread support of the Muslim community. Describing those backing the bill as legatees of Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab, figures known as bitter enemies to the Prophet Muhammad, he said, “Only those who are the legatees of Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab are supporting this law. The followers of Prophet Muhammad, until the Day of Judgment, will say that this is a black law,” he declared.
The AIMIM chief also took aim at the Uttarakhand government for implementing the Uniform Civil Code in what he implied was a discriminatory fashion. He questioned why the Hindu Undivided Family law and Adivasis had been excluded from its purview.
Published – May 22, 2025 12:05 pm is
