West Bengal Govt. Agreed to upload all waqf property

The Waqf Amendment Bill: Protests, Riots, and a Push for Transparency in West Bengal

What is Waqf?

Waqf is a special kind of donation in Islam. It means giving away land or buildings permanently to help poor people, or to build mosques, schools, or hospitals. In India, organisations called Waqf Boards look after these donations. There are over 600,000 Waqf properties across the country, worth billions of pounds. West Bengal alone has about 80,000 of them. The idea is straightforward: wealthy Muslims give property so the income from it can help those in need. But sometimes, the people in charge keep the money for themselves instead of giving it to the poor. This has led to major problems like fraud and arguments over who owns what land.

The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024

In August 2024, the Indian government introduced a new law called the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to sort out these problems. It became an Act in April 2025 after Parliament approved it. The law is meant to make things fairer. The main changes include:

- Adding non-Muslims to Waqf Boards so decisions aren't made by just one religious group.

- District officers must verify whether a property is actually Waqf before it's officially registered as such.

- All Waqf lands must be listed on a central online database that everyone can see.

- Only Muslims who have practised Islam for at least five years can create Waqf donations.

The government said this would stop corruption and ensure poor Muslims actually benefit from Waqf. But many people called it an attack on Muslim rights.

Protests and Riots in West Bengal

The Bill sparked massive anger in West Bengal, where there's a large Muslim population. Political leaders like Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress party strongly opposed it. They said it takes control away from Muslims and divides people along religious lines. In December 2024, the state Assembly passed a resolution asking Parliament to scrap the Bill. Mamata Banerjee called it "anti-Muslim" and promised West Bengal wouldn't follow it. Rahul Gandhi from the Congress party also said it was a "weapon against minorities."

Protests turned violent in Murshidabad district in April 2025, right after the law was passed. Angry mobs set fire to shops, cars, and police vans. They blocked roads and threw stones. Three people died: a father and son were hacked to death, and another person was shot. Over 150 people were arrested. The Calcutta High Court sent in central police forces to restore order. Violence spread to areas like South 24 Parganas. Many blamed political leaders for stirring up trouble, but others said certain religious groups wanted to keep control of Waqf lands for themselves rather than help the poor. Reports show that Waqf Boards in Bengal have been involved in scandals, including a £100 crore fraud in 2012 where lands were illegally seized.

Bengal Government's New Action: Uploading Records

Now, in a major shift, the West Bengal government has begun uploading Waqf property details onto the central UMEED portal. This online system clearly lists all the lands. District officers must upload the information by 6 December 2025. There are roughly 8,000 Waqf estates in Bengal. Officials say they're simply following the rules to make things transparent, not necessarily accepting the entire new law. This could prevent misuse by showing clearly who owns what. However, opposition leaders are worried it gives the central government too much control.

Why This Matters

The Bill is designed to end corruption so that Waqf genuinely helps those in need, like widows and orphans. In Bengal, which has a history of land disputes, this upload is a cautious step forward. It might bring peace by proving that nobody's grabbing properties for personal gain. However, trust is very low after the riots. Experts say more discussions between political leaders and communities are essential. If done properly, Waqf can help build better schools and homes for everyone. Bengal's decision shows that even those who oppose the law want fairness, but only time will tell whether it calms the anger.