New Delhi, Apr 2 (UNI) Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a key ally of the NDA government, on Wednesday supported the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, saying that reforms would empower the minority community particularly women.



Participating in the debate TDP leader Krishna Prasad Tenneti said, “There is a need to take care of their welfare and the lives of the minorities. In the light of these challenges, the presence of the vast Waqf properties valued at over Rs 1.2 lakh crore and covering 36.18 lakh acres presents an opportunity for economic and social transformation for minorities.”



However, these properties have largely been under utilised due to administrative inefficiencies and mismanagement and several times with malafied intentions, he noted.

“Our party firmly believes that these resources must be used for the welfare of the Muslim community particularly the women, the youth and the downtrodden,” Tenneti said.



He said, “Our party supports welfare of minority women. We were the first to establish special committee on the Waqf properties. Fourteen amendments have been proposed in the Bill of which TDP has moved three. These include that all registered Waqf properties will remain valid without a deed and disputes over properties will be resolved by an officer ranked higher than a collector. The third amendment proposed by TDP is grant of extension for registration of properties.”



Tenneti also slammed YSRCP, accusing it of playing politics instead of working for the true development of the minorities in the state.



“YSRCP has treated Muslims as nothing more than a vote bank, while we see them as an integral community that deserves protection and upliftment,” he added.

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