VHP demands repeal of Waqf Act, claims law fuels property disputes and Muslim appeasement

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded the repeal of the Waqf Act, alleging that the law fuels property disputes and promotes Muslim appeasement. The organisation is urging the central government to bring in a new law that addresses the uncontrolled expansion of waqf properties, which have reportedly grown from 4 lakh acres in 1995 to over 9 lakh acres today.

During a recent webinar organised by the Umang Foundation, VHP leader Tushar Dogra outlined the organisation’s concerns over the 1995 amendments to the Waqf Act 1954, which he described as “dangerous” and designed to allow the Waqf Board to seize government and private properties without providing proof of ownership. Dogra highlighted several controversial cases, including the Waqf Board’s claim on the Taj Mahal, which is currently under legal review in the Supreme Court, and other properties such as the Ramlila Maidan in Bengaluru and the municipal corporation building in Surat.

“The Waqf Board has been given excessive powers through the existing law, which allows them to claim property without any documentary evidence. It is the property owner who is forced to defend his ownership, while the cases are taken to the Waqf Tribunal instead of the civil court,” Dogra said during the event chaired by Professor Arun Singh of Himachal Pradesh University.

Dogra further said that despite the government introducing 44 proposed amendments to the law, they will not solve the fundamental issues. He argued that a complete repeal of the Waqf Act is necessary to protect public and private property rights.

Echoing these sentiments, Professor Arun Singh said that this law has negatively impacted social and communal harmony in India due to political objectives of appeasement. He supported the VHP’s call for a new Waqf Act and urged the government to bring the matter before Parliament for reform.

The VHP’s demands come amid wider national concerns about the influence of the Waqf Board, which controls one of the country’s largest land portfolios after the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Railways. The organisation claims that the law has been exploited by the Waqf Board to pursue land claims on various government properties, hindering development and creating disputes.

The debate over the Waqf Act continues to stir controversy, with critics arguing that the law disproportionately favours one religious group, while others call for more balanced reforms that protect both public and private interests.