New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday slammed the Congress for allegedly spreading "misinformation" on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and assured that the legislation does not seek to interfere in Muslims' religious matters.
"This is a huge misconception that this Act will interfere with the religious conduct of Muslims and interfere with the property donated by them. This misconception is being spread to instil fear among minorities for their vote bank," Shah said while participating in the debate on the legislation in the Lok Sabha.
The Union Home Minister also clarified that non-Muslims will not be of committee which will interfere in religious matter and said that non-Muslims will only look after the administration of property donated by someone under Waqf Law, whether it is being done as per law, whether the property is being used for the intent with which it was donated."
Shah made these remarks after the Opposition raised the question on selection of the 12 non-Muslims in the new Board.
He asserted that any dispute on Waqf properties will be decided by courts, saying, “If the public whose property has been taken over by Waqf, where will he go apart from the courts."
He further noted that Waqf Board is a statutory body and not a Muslim community’s exclusive domain.
"Someone said that this Bill will not be accepted by Muslims, what threats are these? The Parliament’s law has to be accepted by all,” said Shah.
On being taunted on West Bengal polls, he added that, “I will come to Bengal and say that we will win more seats.”
Giving details about the property under the Waqf, the Home Minister said, "From 1913 to 2013, 18 lakh acre land was under Waqf control, and it increased to 21 lakh acre by 2025 and they are saying it is not being misused."
He said, "Between 2001-12, Waqf properties worth Rs two lakh crore were transferred to private institutions on a 100-year lease. The High Court in Bengaluru had to intervene and stop the confiscation of 602 acres of land. This money belongs to the poor Muslims of the country, it is not for the rich to steal."
Giving more details over the Bill in Lok Sabha, the Home Minister said, “No land can be made Waqf property by mere declaration. Lands of ASI, governments, tribal communities, private citizens will be protected by the law."
He said that after the passage of the Bill, all Muslim communities be it Shia, Pasmanda, Ahmadiya, Bohris can register trusts, do not need to go via Waqf.”
Claiming that the Narendra Modi government was doing ‘politics of progress’, he said, “Modi has been elected for three terms and for the next three terms also it will be a BJP government.”
UNI JA SS