New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) The Congress party created a monster in the form of the Waqf Board, which functioned with unbridled authority as "Petitioner, Judge, Jury and Executioner," BJP MP Tejasvi Surya alleged on Sunday, asserting that no other institution in the world had such sweeping powers.
Participating in a discussion under the Sansad Dhvani initiative alongside party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, the leader said the Waqf Board operated without checks and balances, bypassing basic tenets of constitutional governance.
"The Congress gave the Waqf Board unprecedented powers, turning it into a parallel authority. There was no oversight, no accountability. It was judge in its own cause," he said.
Highlighting the recent legislative changes, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "restored constitutional balance" through the 'Waqf Amendment Bill', which aims to curtail arbitrary powers and introduce greater transparency and accountability in the management of waqf properties.
"The amendment ensures that the rule of law prevails and that no institution remains above constitutional scrutiny," he added, lauding the Narendra Modi government for acting decisively on an issue that had long been a source of public concern.
The remarks come amid a wider political debate over the role and reach of the Waqf Boards, with the ruling party alleging historic misuse and the opposition accusing the government of targeting minority institutions.
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