BJP’s Shehzad Poonawala Criticizes Opposition Over Waqf Amendment Bill
New Delhi, India – Ahead of the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala criticized the opposition, particularly the INDI alliance, for opposing the bill. He argued that the bill is pro-transparency and pro-good-governance, and that opposition to it indicates support for land grabbers rather than the Muslim community.
Poonawala referenced reports from the Sachar Committee, 9th JPC Report, and Dargah Committee, stating that changes in Waqf laws have been a longstanding demand of the Muslim community to benefit poor Muslims. He accused the Congress party of giving unlimited powers to the Waqf Board for vote bank politics and appeasement.
He cited a case in the Madhya Pradesh High Court where the Waqf Board allegedly declared various properties, including the Taj Mahal, as their own. Poonawala claimed that some rich Muslim families with political backing are troubled by the bill and are trying to instigate opposition against it.
Earlier, Congress MPs KC Venugopal and Hibi Eden, along with the Samajwadi Party, submitted notices to oppose the bill. The BJP-led government plans to introduce the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to address issues related to the powers of State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties, and removal of encroachments.
The bill, introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, seeks to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, and provide a clear definition of ‘waqf.’ It also aims to ensure representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards, and establish a separate Board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis.
Opposition leaders, including AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, argue that the bill violates constitutional principles and discriminates against the Muslim community. Owaisi filed a motion opposing the bill, citing violations of Articles 14, 15, and 25 of the Constitution.
In addition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Rijiju will also introduce The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, which seeks to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923.
Doubts Revealed
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the major political parties in India.
Shehzad Poonawala -: Shehzad Poonawala is a spokesperson for the BJP. A spokesperson is someone who speaks on behalf of a group or organization.
Opposition -: In politics, the opposition refers to the political parties that are not in power and often challenge the decisions of the ruling party.
Waqf Amendment Bill -: A bill is a proposal for a new law. The Waqf Amendment Bill is about making changes to the rules that govern Waqf properties, which are lands or buildings given for religious or charitable purposes in Islam.
Pro-transparency -: Pro-transparency means supporting openness and honesty, so that everyone can see what is happening.
Pro-good-governance -: Pro-good-governance means supporting the idea that the government should work well and fairly for everyone.
Land grabbers -: Land grabbers are people who take land illegally or unfairly.
Minority Affairs Minister -: The Minority Affairs Minister is a government official responsible for looking after the interests of minority communities in India.
Kiren Rijiju -: Kiren Rijiju is an Indian politician who is the Minority Affairs Minister. He works on issues related to minority communities.
State Waqf Boards -: State Waqf Boards are organizations that manage Waqf properties in different states of India.
Representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims -: This means including Muslim women and people who are not Muslims in the decision-making process.
AIMIM -: AIMIM stands for All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen. It is a political party in India.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. An MP is someone who has been elected to represent people in the Parliament.
Asaduddin Owaisi -: Asaduddin Owaisi is a politician and the leader of the AIMIM party.
Constitutional principles -: Constitutional principles are the basic rules and ideas that guide how a country is governed, as written in its Constitution.
