Maharashtra Government Withdraws Rs 10 Crore Grant For Waqf Board Amid BJP Opposition

These developments unfolded after the Union government included the bill in its legislative agenda for the winter session of Parliament.

The Maharashtra government withdrew a government resolution (GR) on Friday that allocated Rs 10 crore to strengthen the state Waqf Board, after the opposition from the BJP. State Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik confirmed the withdrawal.

The BJP has opposed the resolution and stated that the decision was taken at the administrative level. The party also added that there is no place for the Waqf Board in the constitution.

In a post on X, the BJP unit in Maharashtra said "fake news" was being spread claiming that the BJP-Mahayuti government gave a grant of Rs 10 crore for the Waqf Board. "The decision was taken by officers at the administrative level. The GR has been scrapped after stiff opposition by the BJP. The BJP is firm on its stand that the waqf board has no place in the Constitution," the BJP said in the post.

Currently, Eknath Shinde is the caretaker chief minister of Maharashtra after the end of the 288-member legislative assembly on November 26. Following the result, the ruling Mahayuti won the election and it retained power in the state. The alliance has secured 230 of the 288 assembly seats. The BJP won 132 seats, the Shiv Sena 57, and the NCP won 41 seats.

According to a report by news agency PTI, the Maharashtra government, in a GR issued on Thursday, announced that the finance and planning department had sanctioned a Rs 10 crore grant to strengthen the Maharashtra State Board of Waqfs (MSBW), based in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Confirming the withdrawal of the GR, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik acknowledged the development.  

The resolution also outlined a total allocation of Rs 20 crore for the financial year 2024-25 to support the Waqf Board, with Rs 2 crore already disbursed. It further instructed the board's Chief Executive Officer to ensure all expenditures adhere to the specified norms.

Union Govt Includes Waqf (Amendment) Bill In Parliament Winter Session

These developments unfold against the backdrop of a dispute over the Centre's Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Union government has included the bill in its legislative agenda for the winter session of Parliament, awaiting a report from the parliamentary committee.  

The proposed legislation aims to amend the Waqf Act, of 1995, to enhance accountability and transparency in the operations of Waqf Boards. It also includes provisions mandating the inclusion of women in these bodies.  

Introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, the bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chaired by MP Jagdambika Pal for review. Earlier this week, opposition members of the JPC reached out to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting an extension of the panel's tenure. They argued for additional time to enable thorough discussions on the comprehensive legislation.