Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said on Sunday (February 16, 2025) that there was “no meaningful consultation with stakeholders before the Waqf Bill was presented in Parliament.”
“No meaningful consultation was conducted with key stakeholders before presenting the Bill in Parliament. It was being implemented without due discussion. This move would place mosques, Imam Baras, and other Waqf properties under government control, a development I firmly oppose,” the Mirwaiz, who attended a function in Budgam, said.
The Mirwaiz, who met the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill in Delhi last month, said the proposed Waqf Bill “disregards the sentiments of the Muslim community and threatens the autonomy of religious institutions.” “Concerns of Muslims were overlooked in the Waqf Bill,” he added.
Welfare of Muslims
The Mirwaiz’s statement came a day after Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju suggested that amendments to the Waqf Bill were for the “welfare of poor Muslims and not to grab Waqf property.”
Meanwhile, the Mirwaiz also strongly criticised statements by National Conference leaders supporting the sale of liquor in Jammu and Kashmir for tourism and revenue purposes.
“J&K has always been a renowned tourist destination and does not require alcohol sales to boost tourism. This approach of the NC is highly irresponsible,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Hurriyat chairman reiterated his plea to migrant Kashmiri Pandits “to return to Kashmir.” “The return of Kashmiri migrants should be guided by inclusivity and mutual understanding,” he added.
He called for intra-community dialogue and involving scholars, civil society, and political leaders, to facilitate the safe and dignified return of Pandits.
“Kashmir has historically been a space of coexistence for people of different faiths. Many Kashmiri Pandits themselves prefer to return in a manner that preserves the region’s traditional harmony,” the Mirwaiz said.
He also expressed concern over the government’s action against employees. “They are being dismissed arbitrarily without proper investigations or legal processes. Such measures are unjust and detrimental to the affected families,” he added.
