A delegation of Dawoodi Bohras called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which contains major provisions they had been seeking for a long time. The meeting was an indication of the community’s gratitude for the central government’s initiative to resolve long-standing issues through legislative changes.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accompanied the delegation during their interaction with the Prime Minister. Officials confirmed that community members conveyed their faith in Modi’s vision of inclusive governance, quoting the slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas.”
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Prime Minister Modi expressed his feelings, saying, “Had a wonderful meeting with members of the Dawoodi Bohra community! We talked about a wide range of issues during the interaction.”
Had a wonderful meeting with members of the Dawoodi Bohra community! We talked about a wide range of issues during the interaction.@Dawoodi_Bohras pic.twitter.com/OC09EgcJPG
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 17, 2025
One of the members informed the Prime Minister that since 1923, they have been asking to be exempt from Waqf rules. Modi was appreciated for passing a law that “protects the minority within a minority,” quoting the provision of excluding communities from the Waqf rules.
Another delegate highlighted a real estate dispute in Mumbai’s Bhindi Bazaar. He said the Dawoodi Bohra community had purchased an expensive property in 2015 for a development project, but someone from Nasik claimed it as Waqf land in 2019. The community member said, “His government has put a stop to such a practice.”
Harish Salve Represented Community Before Parliament Committee
Community leader Harish Salve, a noted lawyer, represented the community when they appeared before the Joint Parliamentary Committee led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal. Following the recommendations of the committee, the government brought a number of new amendments before it passed the bill.
Opposition parties severely criticized the bill during the Parliament debate, but the government defended it as a step toward ensuring transparency and effectively administering Waqf properties.
The Supreme Court is now considering petitions questioning the constitutionality of the Act.
