he Waqf Act 2025: A Reform Marred by Mistrust and Silence

Introduction

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was envisioned as a corrective measure to address decades of mismanagement in waqf property governance. Yet, its passage unleashed a wave of protests, exposing deep communal fault lines in Bharat. In this seventh installment of our series on the Waqf Act controversy, we delve into how the legislative process, despite its rigor, became a lightning rod for mistrust. The conspicuous silence of Hindu organizations, combined with media’s selective focus, transformed a policy reform into a communal battleground. This saga underscores a critical challenge: how can Bharat pursue equitable reforms without fracturing its diverse social fabric?

Historical Backdrop

The roots of the Waqf Act debate trace back to the 1995 and 2013 amendments, which granted waqf boards sweeping powers to claim properties without judicial oversight or robust documentation. These provisions led to widespread encroachments, often in Hindu-majority areas, sparking public outrage. In Karnataka, entire villages faced waqf claims, while Uttar Pradesh saw similar disputes (Sachar Committee, 2006; The Hindu, November 7, 2024). The 2025 amendment aimed to introduce transparency through digitization, mandatory audits, and stakeholder oversight. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) spearheaded an extensive consultation process, engaging 284 stakeholders, including state officials, farmers, scholars, and organizations like the Zakat Foundation and Archaeological Survey of India. Over one crore citizens submitted inputs via email between September 26 and October 1, 2024, across states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu (Hindustan Times, August 9, 2024). Yet, the absence of prominent Hindu groups like the RSS or Hindu Mahasabha in these discussions fueled perceptions of a lopsided process, setting the stage for mistrust.

Legislative Process: A Double-Edged Sword

The JPC’s efforts were formidable, with 34 sittings spanning 108 hours and consultations in cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru, with plans for further visits to Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal (ANI, September 24, 2024). JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal defended the process, emphasizing a “national effort” to produce a “comprehensive report” (The Hindu, November 7, 2024). A BJP JPC member reinforced this, noting that “the Chairperson ensured everyone had the opportunity to express their views,” with 42 organizations consulted in Hyderabad alone (DD News, January 27, 2025). Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju cited “200 complaints regarding waqf encroachments” as a key driver, while Home Minister Amit Shah praised the JPC’s “extensive consultations to ensure transparency” (India Today, April 3, 2025).

Despite this, the six-month timeline—shorter than the UPA era’s 60–71% committee referral rate for bills (PRS India)—drew accusations of haste. Opposition leaders framed the Act as anti-Muslim, ignoring support from Christian groups in Kerala, where 18% of the population endorsed reforms to curb waqf overreach (Kerala Kaumudi, October 10, 2024). The exclusion of Hindu organizations, coupled with their muted response, left a critical gap in the narrative. This dual polarization—government urgency and opposition rhetoric—mirrored tensions in prior reforms like the 2019 triple talaq law, where intent clashed with perception. The lack of pre-legislative engagement with diverse groups underscored a broader failure to anticipate communal sensitivities.

The Enigma of Hindu Silence

While Muslim organizations protested, alleging erosion of rights, Hindu voices remained conspicuously absent. In West Bengal’s Alipurduar district (8.74% Muslim, 2011 Census), waqf claims over 250 acres of Hindu farmers’ land sparked local tensions, yet groups like the RSS, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Hindu Mahasabha issued no statements (The Indian Express, October 20, 2024). Similarly, in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli (8.6% Muslim), disputes over 1,200 acres of Hindu-owned land escalated, with no major Hindu organization responding (The New Indian Express, October 15, 2024). In Tripura’s Unakoti (2.26% Muslim), protests over waqf claims injured 18 police officers, yet Hindu groups stayed silent (India Today, April 3, 2025). This absence, alongside the government’s focus on majority votes, raised questions about equitable representation. The opposition’s selective outrage, ignoring Hindu grievances, further deepened communal divides.

Media’s Role in Amplifying Discord

Media coverage exacerbated the crisis by fixating on protests and opposition rhetoric. National dailies and international outlets highlighted religious leaders’ claims of communal bias, while underreporting the Act’s intent to address systemic corruption and litigation overload. Regional outlets in Alipurduar, Tiruchirappalli, and Moradabad echoed protest narratives but rarely featured Hindu or Christian landowners’ struggles. Kerala’s Christian support for reforms found little traction in mainstream reports, skewing the narrative toward a communal lens (Economic Times, February 14, 2025). This selective amplification prevented the public from viewing the Act as a legal correction, fueling mistrust and division.

Conclusion

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, reveals a stark truth: even well-intentioned reforms can falter when filtered through communal suspicion and incomplete dialogue. Despite robust consultations, the exclusion of Hindu voices, opposition spin, and media imbalances turned a governance fix into a flashpoint. Bharat’s path to reform demands inclusive engagement and transparent communication to ensure every community feels heard. Only then can laws unite, rather than divide, this diverse nation.

Call to Action

How can Bharat craft reforms that bridge divides? Why are Hindu voices absent from the discourse?

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