Bhopal MP Imran Pratapgarhi has sparked a political row by claiming that if the Congress party regains power, it will scrap the Waqf Act “within an hour.” His remarks came during a public address where he sharply criticized the misuse and mismanagement of Waqf properties under the current legal framework.
Imran stated that the Waqf Act, which governs the administration of Muslim charitable endowments in India, has become a tool for exploitation and injustice against the Muslim community. He alleged that several Waqf properties are illegally occupied or sold off due to loopholes in the law and that political will is lacking to protect these assets.
The BJP and right-wing leaders have seized upon the remarks to accuse Congress of appeasement politics, while several Muslim groups welcomed the call to reform or abolish the Act, citing years of negligence and corruption within Waqf boards.
The controversial statement has reignited debate around the governance of religious endowments and the rights of minority communities in India. Legal experts, however, caution that repealing the Waqf Act would require comprehensive parliamentary action and not just a declaration.
