Under Siege: The Modi Government’s Assault on Muslim Properties through the Waqf Bill

A growing wave of concern is sweeping across India’s Muslim communities as the Narendra Modi-led government pushes forward with the controversial Waqf Bill—legislation critics describe as a calculated effort to centralize control and expropriate centuries-old Muslim properties under the pretext of reform.

Muslim leaders, legal experts, and civil rights advocates are sounding the alarm, warning that the bill amounts to a targeted erosion of constitutional protections and religious autonomy. “This is not about transparency or modernization,” says former Waqf Board chairperson Zakia Sultana. “This is a state-sanctioned land grab.”

A Legal Weapon Disguised as Reform

The Waqf Bill, introduced late last year, seeks to bring all Waqf properties—religious endowments historically protected and administered by Muslim communities—under direct control of the central government. The government argues the bill is meant to bring transparency and root out corruption. But opponents view it as a pretext to seize valuable land, some of which lies in urban centers where real estate prices are soaring.

“This is an ideological attack dressed in legalese,” says Faizan Mahmood, a Delhi-based constitutional scholar. “They’re exploiting the law to dismantle Muslim sovereignty over religious institutions.”

The move has triggered outrage not only due to its implications but because it starkly contrasts with how Hindu religious endowments are treated. Hindu trusts continue to be managed by state governments, a federal approach that respects India’s pluralistic structure. The centralization of Muslim endowments alone, critics argue, constitutes a grave violation of India’s secular and federal ethos.

Double Standards and Deepening Divides

Civil society organizations say the bill institutionalizes a dangerous double standard. Hindu religious trusts, which control significant land and assets, remain largely autonomous, while Muslim bodies face increased scrutiny and control. “This is not governance,” says attorney Mehmood Yusuf. “It’s selective suppression.”

The idea of appointing non-Muslims to manage Waqf properties has especially drawn ire. Government spokespeople tout the provision as a push for inclusivity, but community leaders view it as cultural appropriation. “Inclusion is not a justification for colonization,” says Hyderabad imam Qasim Rahmani. “This is about undermining Muslim authority under the guise of fairness.”

Peaceful Protest Meets Demonization

In response to the bill, millions of Indian Muslims participated in peaceful protests, including email campaigns urging lawmakers to reconsider the legislation. But BJP leaders quickly branded these efforts as “Email Jihad,” a term widely condemned for stoking Islamophobia and criminalizing dissent.

“Muslims are vilified not just for protesting, but for existing as a political voice,” says journalist Asma Farooqui. “This regime doesn’t want us to participate in democracy—it wants us erased from it.”

A Centuries-Old Legacy at Risk

India’s Waqf properties are part of a deeply rooted tradition—endowments made over centuries to support mosques, schools, orphanages, and community welfare. The new bill threatens that legacy by placing these institutions at the mercy of political appointees and bureaucratic control.

Legal experts warn that once centralized, the government could rezone or repurpose Waqf land for commercial or political use. “This is about rewriting religious autonomy to fit a majoritarian narrative,” says Dr. Arif Parvez, a historian at Aligarh Muslim University. “This government wants control—not stewardship.”

A Turning Point for Indian Secularism

While the BJP frames the bill as progressive reform, many see it as part of a broader pattern of marginalization. From the Citizenship Amendment Act to bulldozer demolitions in Muslim neighborhoods, the Modi regime has been increasingly accused of undermining India’s secular foundation.

“The Waqf Bill is not an isolated case,” warns human rights lawyer Karuna Nundy. “It’s a window into a larger strategy—reengineer India’s religious landscape by targeting the most vulnerable.”

As protests continue and court challenges loom, one thing is clear: the fight over Waqf properties is about more than land. It’s about identity, belonging, and the future of secular democracy in the world’s largest democracy.