By Our Staff Reporter
New Delhi, 19 Mar: The BJP has criticised the opposition’s stance on the proposed Waqf Bill, calling it an attempt to mislead the Muslim community. Rajya Sabha MP and State President Mahendra Bhatt today questioned how the current amendment bill could be deemed unconstitutional when previous Waqf laws and amendments were considered constitutional.
Referring to the JPC report presented in Parliament, Bhatt stressed that the amendment bill does not threaten the ownership of Waqf properties, stating that ‘not even an inch’ of land will be lost. Despite this, he accused the opposition, including Congress, of spreading rumours and lies to create confusion among the Muslim community.
Countering allegations that the Waqf Amendment Act is “anti-constitutional”, Bhatt reminded that the Waqf Board Act was passed in 1954 despite being rejected during the Constitution-making process. Subsequent amendments in 1955, 1995, and 2013 granted extensive rights to the Waqf Board. He questioned how the current amendment bill could be considered unconstitutional when the Waqf Act has been amended several times in the past. He also noted that suggestions from the opposition were recorded in the dissent note of the JPC report, yet misinformation is being spread even before the report’s public release.
Bhatt assured that the government’s intention behind the Waqf Bill is to ensure professional management and transparency regarding Waqf properties. He stressed that the bill aims to prevent misuse of Waqf Board powers and protect lands from encroachment. Institutions with clear ownership and long-standing places of worship have no reason to fear the new law.
Taking a dig at opposition leaders making statements at Jantar Mantar, Bhatt accused them of engaging in vote bank politics under the guise of secularism, which he claimed relies on spreading fear. He expressed confidence that the public would not be swayed by such tactics and that the government would pass the Waqf Amendment Bill in line with public sentiment.
