Waqf: No non-Muslim will be allowed in Waqf, the bill had to be brought due to the amendment of 2013; Shah’s strong arguments in the House

Home Minister Amit Shah – Photo: Sansad TV

Waqf Amendment Bill: Amit Shah said, Waqf is an Arabic word whose history is linked to some Hadiths. The meaning in which it is used today is the donation of property in the name of Allah.

The Waqf Amendment Bill is being presented in the Lok Sabha today. The ruling and the opposition are continuously giving their opinions in the House. Presenting the government’s side, Home Minister Amit Shah said that I think that either innocently or for political reasons, there are a lot of misconceptions in the minds of the members and efforts are being made to spread them. Rijiju ji will respond to the discussion on the bill. I will try to clarify some things. Amit Shah said, Waqf is an Arabic word whose history is linked to some Hadiths. The meaning in which it is used today is the donation of property in the name of Allah. What we are understanding now, came into existence during the time of the second Caliph of Islam, Umar. Waqf is a type of charitable endorsement. In this, a person makes a sacred donation. Donation can be made of something that is one’s own, I cannot donate government property or someone else’s property. This entire debate is on this matter.

Not a single non-Muslim will be included in Waqf-Shah

The Home Minister said, non-Muslims are not being kept in Waqf to run religious activities. But the opposition is working to secure its vote bank by intimidating people through this. There is a talk of keeping non-Muslims in Waqf Board and Waqf Parishad whose job is to see whether the work is being done properly or not. Through this House, I want to tell the Muslim brothers of the whole country that not a single non-Muslim will be included in your Waqf.

Amit Shah said that the Waqf Board and Waqf Parishad will catch those people who sell the properties in Waqf Board, give them on rent for hundred years at a very low price. They want that the collusion which was in their rule should continue. Now this will not work. Amit Shah said that if the amendment of 2013 had not come, then there would have been no need to bring this amendment today. The Congress government gave 125 properties of Delhi Lutyens to Waqf. The land of Northern Railway was given to Waqf. He said that in Himachal, mosques were built by claiming it to be Waqf land.

Citing the Manipatti Committee report, Amit Shah said that one lakh thirty eight thousand acres of land was given on rent, land of private institutions was transferred on a lease of hundred years, 1500 acres of land of Vijaypur village was claimed and brought into dispute, it was given on rent to a five star hotel for Rs. 12000 per month and said that this money belongs to poor Muslims.

Shah gave examples of land grabbing

Giving examples of land grabbing, Amit Shah said that a claim was made on a temple in Karnataka, 600 acres of land. Claim was also made on a lot of land belonging to the Christian community. Many groups are opposing the Waqf Bill. Akhilesh ji, there will be no benefit in seeking the sympathy of Muslim brothers. These MPs from the South who are speaking are angering all the churches of their area. Congress handed over the land belonging to Gurudwaras in Haryana to Waqf. Chandrashekhar Azad Park in Prayagraj was also declared Waqf. All this is going on, Waqf is a trust created by donations of Muslim brothers, the government does not want to interfere in it.

‘Till 2013, the total land of Waqf Board was 18 lakh acres and from 2013 to 2025, the land has increased by 21 lakh’

During this, Home Minister Amit Shah said in the House- The amendment made in 2013 was done after just five hours, this time the discussion is going on for 16 hours in both the houses. The Home Minister said that the opposition is instigating the minorities. Waqf is not a representative body of the Muslim community and this bill is for public welfare, for vote bank. From 1913 to 2013, the total land of Waqf Board was 18 lakh acres and from 2013 to 2025, the land has increased by 21 lakh. There has been a significant increase in this after 2013. Amit Shah said that people are being scared that it will come with retrospective effect. If you had read the first three pages and sections of this bill, you would have known.

Amit Shah lashed out at the opposition

Shah said that land worth lakhs and crores and income of Rs. 126 crores. They say what is the purpose of income? Today all the RJD members said, when the amendment of 2013 came, what did Lalu ji say, he said that all the lands have been usurped. In Patna itself, all the property of the dak bungalow has been used for big buildings. We support it but want a strict law to be brought. Amit Shah then while responding to the things said by many members in the House said that why should we be afraid of transparency. You had made it clear that no one can challenge its order in the court. The entire constitution was abolished there itself. We say that anyone can challenge it in the court. Congress had committed the sin of keeping it out of the forum of the court.

‘Restrictions were also imposed on the jurisdiction of the courts’

During this time, Home Minister Amit Shah said in the House – The amendment made in 2013 was done after just five hours, this time discussions are going on for 16 hours in both the houses. A committee was also formed regarding this, representatives of state governments came, three study tours were done. Around 92.68 lakh suggestions came online, you cannot reject it like this. The members who are here have not been elected by the grace of any family, one member has said that there was a provision for appeal in the old law. It was clear in it that no matter what the decision is, there can be no appeal, restrictions were also imposed on the jurisdiction of the courts. Right now it is fashionable to wave the Constitution, according to the Constitution how can any decision be outside the purview of the court. You did this for the vote bank, we are rejecting it, this will not work. One member said that the minority will not accept this law, what are you threatening brother. It is the law of the Parliament, everyone will have to accept it. They are neither concerned about the backward nor about the Muslims – Amit Shah

During his address, the Home Minister said – They are neither concerned about the backward nor about the Muslims, they have been working on the basis of casteism and appeasement for years. They have increased the politics of their family by working on this basis. And Modi ji’s government has worked to end this. The public elected Modi ji for three terms and the Bharatiya Janata Party will remain in power for three terms. I want to congratulate Kiren Rijiju for this bill.