Uttarakhand Waqf board proposal to JPC: Mark land for soldiers' kin

DEHRADUN: During a JPC meeting on the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, Uttarakhand's Waqf board has proposed allocating Waqf land to "families of soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the country". A two-member delegation, led by board chairman Shadab Shams and CEO Syed Siraj Usman, presented Uttarakhand's stance, advocating for Waqf land provisions for soldiers "regardless of religious affiliation".

Sources said the board in the meeting Monday in Delhi argued that soldiers should not be identified by religion and stressed that "when Waqf land is withheld from others, why not allocate it to soldiers protecting the nation?" The board said that supporting the families of these "brave hearts" is a responsibility of the entire nation, including Waqf board.

The delegation also recommended implementing a "one nation, one education, one law" approach and advocated for the dissolution of both the Waqf and the madrassa boards. The panel explained that with the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) set to be enacted in Uttarakhand, separate boards would not be needed, as UCC aims to provide equality regardless of religion.

In addition to these recommendations, the Uttarakhand panel backed idea of surveying temples and suggested involving premier agencies, such as CBI, to probe any controversies surrounding Waqf land.