Shehzad Poonawalla Criticizes Congress Over Karnataka Land Transfer to Waqf
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has accused the Congress party of attempting to transfer thousands of acres of farmers’ land in Karnataka to the Waqf board, labeling it as vote bank politics. He criticized Congress for granting extensive powers to Waqf in 1995 and 2013, suggesting that the current government is facilitating this land transfer.
Poonawalla stated, “Now the Congress party wants to snatch away all the lands of farmers and give it to one vote bank. This they are doing in the name of vote bank politics.” He further claimed that the opposition to the BJP’s Waqf amendment bill by Congress, Asaduddin Owaisi, and the Samajwadi Party is due to their desire for unlimited power for Waqf.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the Waqf bill, attended by retired judges and Supreme Court lawyers, discussed reforms such as digitization of records, stricter audits, increased transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied Waqf properties.
Doubts Revealed
Shehzad Poonawalla -: Shehzad Poonawalla is a spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is one of the major political parties in India. He often speaks on behalf of the party and shares their views on various issues.
Congress -: Congress, also known as the Indian National Congress, is one of the oldest political parties in India. It has been a major player in Indian politics and has formed the government several times since India’s independence.
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It is known for its rich culture, history, and is home to cities like Bengaluru, which is a major tech hub.
Waqf -: Waqf is a religious endowment in Islam, where property or land is donated for religious or charitable purposes. The Waqf board manages these properties and ensures they are used for the intended purposes.
Vote bank politics -: Vote bank politics refers to the practice of political parties trying to gain votes by appealing to specific groups of people, often based on religion, caste, or community, rather than focusing on broader issues.
1995 and 2013 actions -: In 1995 and 2013, the Congress party made decisions that gave more power to the Waqf board, which manages religious properties. These actions are being criticized as they are seen as favoring certain groups for political gain.
Waqf amendment bill -: The Waqf amendment bill is a proposed change to the laws governing Waqf properties. The BJP wants to make changes, but Congress and some other parties oppose these changes, fearing it might reduce the power of the Waqf board.
Asaduddin Owaisi -: Asaduddin Owaisi is an Indian politician and the president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), a political party. He is known for advocating for the rights of Muslims in India.
Samajwadi Party -: The Samajwadi Party is a political party in India, primarily based in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It focuses on social justice and the welfare of the backward classes and minorities.
Joint Parliamentary Committee -: A Joint Parliamentary Committee is a group of members from both houses of India’s Parliament. They come together to discuss and make recommendations on specific issues, like reforms for Waqf properties in this case.