Indian Parliament’s Lower House Passes Controversial Muslim Endowments Bill

India's lower house of parliament has passed a contentious bill introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government to amend laws regarding Muslim endowments, which total over $14 billion.

The Waqf Bill seeks to include non-Muslims in the management boards of these endowments, and grant the government more control over the verification of their land holdings. Waqf refers to assets – both movable and immovable – permanently donated by Muslims for religious or charitable purposes. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Modi, claims the changes to the 1995 Waqf law will reduce corruption, improve management, and enhance diversity.

However, Muslims fear that these changes may expose Waqf properties, such as historic mosques, shrines, shops, graveyards, and vast tracts of land, to potential confiscations and disputes.

In a heated debate on Wednesday, the opposition, led by Congress, criticized the bill as unconstitutional and discriminatory against Muslims. Despite lacking a majority in the lower house, the BJP passed the bill with 288 votes in favor and 232 against, with the help of its allies. The bill will now be debated in the upper house and, if approved, will proceed to President Droupadi Murmu for final approval.

A major point of contention is the bill's effect on ownership rules, which could impact the hundreds of mosques and religious sites that lack formal documentation due to their centuries-old origins. Many Indian Muslims are concerned that this move will allow the Hindu nationalist government to exert more control over Muslim properties, particularly as attacks on Muslim communities have risen under Modi's leadership.

The Waqf properties span almost one million acres and are managed by 32 government-established boards. The government’s proposal to include non-Muslims in the boards has been defended by Home Minister Amit Shah, who emphasized that they would only oversee the administration, ensuring that donations are being used as intended and the management complies with the law.

Opposition leaders, such as Rahul Gandhi, have decried the bill as a tool to marginalize Muslims and encroach on their property rights. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has also opposed the bill, calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. They argue it will diminish the autonomy of Waqf boards and vowed to challenge it in court if passed.

Muslim groups fear that this move may set a dangerous precedent, with other minority communities possibly targeted in the future. There is also concern about the government's broader agenda of controlling Muslim assets, as Hindu right-wing groups have already claimed several mosques across India.

India's Muslim population, which makes up 14% of the nation's 1.4 billion people, is the largest minority but also the poorest. Calls for reform in Waqf management have been made before, including by the Sachar Committee, which recommended changes to improve the returns from Waqf properties for the Muslim community.