“How the Waqf Amendment Act is a game changer for Religious Land Holdings in India”, ForPolIndia, October 23, 2025
“Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room, there is no credible evidence that India is experiencing “land grabbing” by religious minorities, whether Muslims through Waqf properties or Christians via Church holdings. Claims of disproportionate or illicit acquisition often stem from misinformation or politically motivated narratives, such as exaggerated figures for Christian properties, which have been debunked.
Religious endowments across all faiths are governed by legal frameworks, acquired through historical grants, donations, or purchases, and constitute a tiny fraction (~1–2%) of India’s total land area (328.7 million hectares). These properties primarily support community welfare, education, and worship, not expansionist agendas.
Encroachments and mismanagement occur across religions, for example, 59,000 Waqf properties have been affected, and temple lands in Tamil Nadu have been retrieved after illegal occupation, but reforms such as the 2025 Waqf Amendment Act and state-level temple audits aim to address them uniformly……”
Read full article at forpolindia.com
