Bengaluru, Apr 3 (UNI) The removal of Section 40 of the Waqf Act, which previously allowed the Waqf Board to take over properties without any legal challenge, has been hailed as a 'historic moment' by BJP leaders in Karnataka.

The passage of the Waqf Board Amendment Bill in Parliament has effectively abolished the board’s uncontested authority over land, addressing a long-standing grievance of landowners, religious institutions, and farmers across the country.

On Thursday, BJP Karnataka President Vijayendra Yediyurappa welcomed the amendment, stating, "This is a great moment for the entire nation. The issue of Waqf’s unchecked control over land has persisted for decades, with thousands of people adversely affected, especially due to Section 40. Finally, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, this has been rectified through the passage of the bill."

Vijayendra pointed to Karnataka as a classic example of the problem, alleging that the Waqf Board had taken over lands belonging to temples, religious bodies, and farmers without any avenue for legal challenge. "Until now, once a property was declared as Waqf property, it could not be contested even in the High Court or Supreme Court. This absurd situation should have been resolved long ago, and we are grateful that it has been corrected," he added.

Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accused the Congress party of using Waqf-related privileges for political gains.

"The Congress party had granted these Waqf-related privileges for vote-bank politics. Despite Congress opposing the amendment, possibly to appease certain sections of society, the bill has received widespread support. I also thank the Christian community, including bishops and other religious leaders, for backing this amendment. It is encouraging to see that in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra, many Muslim women and youth have also supported this move.”

Narayanaswamy further claimed that Congress is “struggling to maintain relevance in national politics” and that its opposition to the bill was indicative of its declining political strategy. “The parliamentary session was extended for 12 hours to ensure the passage of this bill, and it was passed with an absolute majority. We are confident that it will also be passed in the Rajya Sabha.”

Former BJP MLA Sanjay B Patil drew parallels between this amendment and previous reforms like the Triple Talaq law. “Be it the Triple Talaq law or now the Waqf Board law, our Muslim brothers are unable to see that these laws are actually for their benefit. Some people are misleading them, but our Prime Minister has always taken bold steps to uplift the nation. His vision is to make India a Vishwa Guru, and this amendment is another step in that direction.”

Sri Ram Sena National President Pramod Muthalik lauded the bill, stating, “For the past 50 years, the Waqf Board has been acquiring government land, private land, and even land belonging to temples and monasteries. This amendment has put an end to such practices, and those opposing it are acting against national interests.”

BJP Karnataka Spokesperson Vijay Prasad also criticised the opposition, alleging, “Last year, when the bill was introduced in Parliament, Congress and the opposition claimed that Parliament belongs to the Waqf Board and that MPs must pay a lease cost for using it. However, yesterday, in the same Parliament, the bill was passed with an absolute majority.”

The passage of the Waqf Board Amendment Bill is expected to remain a contentious issue, with opposition parties likely to challenge its provisions in the coming days.

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