Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference President and MLA from Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, stated on Wednesday that the state should not interfere with religion and that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a matter of religion.
“The Waqf property is collectively owned by the Muslims of the country. It is the right of the Muslims to decide on these (properties) by using their institutions and systems. The state should not have any interference with the religion. We do not advocate with any religion and neither with our religion. It is gross interference. It is our matter,” Lone told ANI.
“It is a matter of our religion,” he asserted, adding “We do not know what are they (Central government) are up to? Who are they looking to appease?”
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday strongly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill and lashed out at the BJP, stating that a party which do not have a single Muslim MP in the Lok Sabha is ironically going to protect the rights of the minorities.
Speaking during a discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, DMK MP A Raja said, “The irony is that the rights of the minorities are going to be protected by a party which has no member of a Muslim community.”
“Today, it is a remarkable day for the Indian Parliament to decide our destiny whether this secular country is going to travel in the path which was well written by the forefathers of the Constitution or a negative path decided by the communal forces in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju questioned why Waqf properties haven’t been used to develop the nation and Muslims. There is no Muslim MP to introduce the Bill. They are not able to produce as single member of Muslim community and they are giving morals as how secularism can be protected.”
Rijiju said that India has the highest number of Waqf properties in the world and questioned why they haven’t been used for the education, medical treatment, skill development, and income generation of poor Muslims.
“When our country has the largest Waqf property in the world, why hasn’t it been used for the education, medical treatment, skill development, and income generation of poor Muslims? Why has no progress been made in this regard so far?” Rijiju said in Lok Sabha.
Rijiju also questioned the Opposition’s objections to the PM Modi-led government working for the betterment of Muslims.
Rijiju also noted that the number of Waqf properties has doubled in the country, and their income has also increased.
Along with the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Rijiju also moved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha.
The bill was earlier presented in the Lok Sabha last August, and a Joint Parliamentary Committee, headed by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, had examined it.
The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995, and improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing Waqf records. (ANI)
