Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 3: Karnataka BJP president and MLA B Y Vijayendra on Thursday welcomed the Lok Sabha’s approval of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it a historic moment.
Criticising the Congress for opposing the Bill at both state and national levels, he termed their stance a tragedy. He alleged that Congress leaders and politicians had exploited Waqf Board provisions to loot land in Karnataka.
“These very Congress leaders, who misused the Waqf Board for their benefit, are now opposing the Bill,” he said.
Vijayendra claimed that discussions on amending the Waqf Act had been ongoing for decades in Karnataka and across the country.
“In our state, temple lands, properties of religious institutions with over a thousand years of history, and even vast stretches of farmland belonging to farmers have been forcibly taken under the name of the Waqf Board,” he alleged.
“If questioning this is not allowed, what kind of justice is this? What kind of country are we living in?” he asked.
He recalled that the BJP had staged protests against the issue a few months ago. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set up a parliamentary subcommittee at the Centre to investigate the fraud and injustices committed under the name of the Waqf Board,” he said.
Vijayendra hailed the passage of the Bill in the Lok Sabha as a moment of celebration. “This is a historic occasion,” he said, adding that not only Hindus but even Muslims had welcomed the decision.
“To mark the occasion, sweets were distributed among BJP leaders and workers,” he added.
Vijayendra accused several Congress leaders of being involved in the Waqf scam. “Karnataka is the latest example. Congress leaders’ names have repeatedly surfaced in the scam, which is why they naturally oppose amendments to the Waqf law,” he claimed.
Attacking Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership, Vijayendra said that after assuming office for the second time, the CM had been acting with arrogance. “His deceptive socialist mask has fallen off during this tenure,” he alleged.
He also accused the Congress of using Karnataka as a financial tool for the high command and the Gandhi family, turning the state into an ATM during elections.
“We failed to counter the misinformation spread against our previous BJP government, and I accept that. As a result, we are now in the Opposition. But we hold no resentment over this,” he said.