NAPM demands repeal of Waqf Act

The National Alliance of People’s Movement has demanded an immediate repeal of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 even as they termed it an attempt to disenfranchise Muslims of India.

Stating that the NAPM has joined other organisations in opposition to the Act, the organisation registered its objection to what they stated were four changes: that a waqf property on which a dispute has arisen would be considered not waqf pending an enquiry by the district collector, doing away with the waqf-by-user provision, the change in composition of State waqf boards by the introduction of a non-Muslim member and the prescribing the professing of faith for five years before being eligible to endow a property for the cause of waqf.

“The total number of properties in India, as per the Waqf Assets Management System of India (WAMSI) is 8.7 lakh. Of this, 4 lakh (or nearly half) properties come under the waqf by user provision. It is unclear how many waqf properties are under dispute, where the State is an interested party. With the provisions of the new Amendment, there are ominous question marks over all of these properties,” a statement reads.

The NAPM also raised concerns over the Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal, where all documents connected to waqf properties are to be uploaded within a timeframe of six months from its notification.

“The changes made by the amendment do nothing to expedite disputes or improve the functioning of the Board. Second, there is a communal perception created that waqf was a means by which ‘shady Muslims’ would take over lands of poor farmers and ordinary people, and that this amendment was brought in to provide ‘protection’ against that,” the statement further reads.