Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 30: Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Sunday accused the INDIA bloc of deliberately spreading misinformation about the Waqf Amendment Bill to mislead a particular community.
He clarified that the bill, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is designed to safeguard people's constitutional right to property and is not targeted against any group.
“The Waqf Amendment Bill is not against anybody. It is a pro-people, pro-constitutional right to property amendment bill. The Opposition, whether it is Owaisi or Rahul Gandhi, depends completely on lies and misinformation,” Chandrasekhar stated.
Highlighting the alleged land disputes in Kerala, he pointed out that many families have suffered due to what he described as arbitrary land acquisitions by Waqf authorities.
“In Kerala alone, hundreds of families in Munambam, near Cochin, have been victims of unilateral land grabs by Waqf authorities. The Waqf Amendment Bill will protect people from having their properties taken away unfairly,” he asserted.
Chandrasekhar also welcomed the recent appeal by the Kerala Catholic Bishop Council, urging MPs to support the bill. He called it a positive move and encouraged all MPs, including those from Congress, to uphold constitutional principles and address real estate concerns affecting citizens.
His remarks come ahead of the bill’s anticipated introduction in Parliament next week. Former Union Ministers and BJP leaders have been pushing for its swift clearance.
Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed on Friday that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be reintroduced in the ongoing Budget Session, which is set to conclude on April 4.
Amit Shah assured that the amendments remain within the framework of the Constitution and urged citizens not to be misled by fear-mongering.
“The opposition is misleading Muslims. No rights of Muslims will be curbed. They are just spreading lies after lies,” Shah declared.
The controversial bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in August 2024. Earlier this month, the committee submitted its 655-page report to both Houses of Parliament amid protests from the Opposition and certain Muslim organizations.