Kolkata, Apr 16 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged INDI Alliance constituents to unitedly oppose the Waqf Amendment Act passed by the Centre's BJP-led dispensation, alleging the legislation "undermines" the country's federal structure.
“They have snatched away the fundamental rights. This law is anti-federal. Through you, I will appeal to the INDI Alliance, let us be united and let us fight together boldly. This is not an individual matter; it will affect each and everybody. Today, they are targeting one group. Tomorrow, they will target another. They are talking about the Uniform Civil Code after this…,” said Banerjee, who is also the Trinamool Congress supremo.
The Chief Minister who was speaking at a conference of the Imams, Muazzims and intellectuals at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here, accused the BJP of "destroying" the basic fabric of India's federal structure.
“Dr. B. R. Ambedkar drafted this Constitution for the entire nation. The BJP must understand that it belongs to India, not to any one party. You may be forcibly taking away my rights, but this cannot go on forever,” she said.
The CM said according to Article 26 of Indian constitution every religious institution has the right to manage its own affairs in matters of religion and the state has no right to interfere in these matters unless it is affecting the public order, morality and health of the citizens.
“Now they are trying to snatch the legitimate rights of the Muslims. If I don’t have the right to acquire any other property then you also have no right to claim ownership over others or religious property but they are trying to snatch it forcibly,” Banerjee said.
The Chief Ministerstated that the Centre is not only encroaching upon the fundamental rights of individuals but also disrespecting the states, thereby undermining the country's federal structure.
“According to Articles 18 and 35 of the State List of the Indian Constitution, land and anything related to land comes under the state's jurisdiction, but by amending the Waqf Act they are trying to snatch the rights of the states also. This cannot happen,” she said.
Accusing the BJP-led government at the Centre of deceiving the entire nation, the Chief Minister said, “The BJP didn’t got for a constitutional amendment because it requires a two-thirds majority, which they lack. Instead, they simply introduced a bill. They are trying to mislead the people of the country with their tactics.”
The Chief Minister urged everyone to remain patient, assuring that once a new government is formed at the Centre, all "anti-people" laws introduced by the BJP will be repealed through constitutional amendments. UNI XC SSP