Owaisi Criticizes PM Modi Over Waqf Law and Calls for Constitutional Clarity on Separation of Powers

 New Delhi, April 22 — All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday intensified his criticism of the recently amended Waqf legislation, while also taking a pointed swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at a public gathering in Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium, Owaisi questioned the government's stance on Waqf properties, challenging what he termed as misinformation about the absence of Waqf structures in Muslim-majority countries. “Waqf institutions exist in every Muslim country, whether a monarchy or a democracy,” the Hyderabad MP said, countering recent claims made by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“One BJP member stated in Parliament that a particular Muslim country lacks Waqf. I urge Prime Minister Modi to ask the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia during his visit whether the city of Medina is built on Waqf land,” he added. Referencing the Prime Minister's diplomatic style, Owaisi remarked, “He will exchange pleasantries with the Crown Prince—‘Ya Habibi, Ya Habibi’—but upon returning home, ask people to identify Muslims by their attire.”

Owaisi's remarks come amid mounting criticism from various quarters over amendments to Waqf property laws, which some opposition leaders argue could undermine the autonomy and heritage of Muslim charitable endowments in India.

Turning to the constitutional debate on the separation of powers, Owaisi defended the judiciary’s right to intervene in cases of legislative overreach. He underscored the constitutional principle that the legislature, executive, and judiciary function as independent pillars of democracy.

“The 2013 Waqf Bill was unanimously passed by both Houses of Parliament. But if the government enacts flawed legislation or misuses constitutional provisions, the judiciary has not only the right but the responsibility to intervene,” he stated.

Owaisi also responded to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s recent comments asserting that "Parliament is supreme." The AIMIM leader dismissed the remark as a misreading of constitutional law. “This reflects a limited understanding. Parliament is indeed sovereign in its domain, but so are the judiciary and the executive. The separation of powers is a foundational element of our constitutional framework,” he told news agency PTI.

As debates over judicial review, legislative sovereignty, and minority rights intensify, Owaisi’s statements highlight growing friction between political leadership and constitutional interpretation—particularly in matters that touch on religious and community-specific legal frameworks.