Home Minister Amit Shah has thrashed the opposition's allegations against the Waqf Amendment Bill. Detailing the huge irregularities in the management of Waqf properties, Shah made it clear that this theft will not be tolerated now. Giving a stern warning to those who have announced not to follow the amended Waqf laws, Shah said that this is the law of India made by the country's parliament. Everyone will have to follow it.
Amit Shah said that if it had been done earlier, there would have been no need for today.
Shah told how the Waqf laws of 2013 were misused to make them very stringent. If Congress had not made the Waqf laws very stringent in 2013 for appeasement, then there would have been no need to bring amendments today.
Participating in the discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, Amit Shah referred to the issue raised by RJD chief Lalu Yadav and other members on the amendment bill brought in 2013. Reading an excerpt from Lalu Yadav's speech, he told how despite supporting the amendment bill, he had raised the issue of huge loot in Waqf properties. He said that there is a need for strict laws to take action against those who do this.
Lalu Yadav's wish is now being fulfilled by the Modi government - Shah.
Shah said that Lalu Yadav's wish is now being fulfilled by the Modi government. A five-star hotel has been built on a Waqf property and its rent is being charged at just Rs 12,000 per month.
Shah said that after the new amendments, the Waqf law will catch those who sell these properties and those who take their rent. Attacking the opposition, he said you made the amendment for the vote bank and now we are rejecting it.
Waqf boards came into existence for the first time in 1995
The Home Minister said that the purpose of including non-Muslims in the Waqf Council and Waqf Boards is only to ensure the administration of the properties. The work of the non-Muslim members who will be placed in the Waqf Board or its premises will not be related to religious activities.
Waqf Council and Waqf Board came into existence for the first time in 1995 and have been retained in the new amendments as well. The government has only worked to make them transparent and accountable. Terming the allegation of the Charity Commissioner being a non-Muslim as ridiculous, he said that this is an administrative post, which oversees the trusts of all religions.
Power was misused
He said that there cannot be separate charity commissioners for all religions. This is a divisive thinking. Amit Shah explained how the excessive power given to Waqf Boards and Waqf Council in the 2013 amendment has been misused.
Cases of declaring temples, villages, and government properties as Waqf
He cited the declaration of temples, villages, and government properties as Waqf in states like Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh and said that the provision to prevent appeal in court against such orders is against the Constitution.
Waqf has 18 lakh acres of land in the country.
He said that between 1913-2013, Waqf had 18 lakh acres of land in the country, which increased to 39 lakh acres in the last 12 years. Cases of people going abroad for studies or working in other cities and getting their property transferred to Waqf have also come to light.
Ban on arbitrary methods of Waqf Board - Amit Shah.
Shah said that the Waqf Board and Waqf Council have been banned from declaring any land as Waqf arbitrarily and now it will be mandatory to get a certificate from the Collector for this. He clarified that Waqf is a donation, which can be done only for one's property. How can someone donate someone else's property? Strong evidence will have to be provided to confirm the claim of Waqf made by medieval rulers.
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