Madhya Pradesh has become the first state to implement a provision of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, permitting non-Muslim members on state Waqf boards. This move has triggered political controversy in the state.
The Mohan Yadav government issued a gazette notification on Sunday forming a 10-member Waqf Board chaired by Sanwar Patel. Along with Muslim members, it appointed Manoj Malpani and BJP state media panellist Animesh Bhargava as non-Muslim representatives. The government stated that Madhya Pradesh is the first state to enact this provision.
Malpani, an Indore-based businessman and B.Com graduate, has been linked to the RSS and its affiliated groups for nearly 30 years. He has reportedly assisted in legal cases related to Waqf properties for individuals who claimed harassment after their assets were designated as Waqf property.
