Mumbai, August 19: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made a resolute statement on Friday, declaring that he would not allow any religious properties, including those under the Waqf Board, to be touched, in the wake of the ongoing controversy surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Thackeray’s statement comes just days after a group of Muslims staged a protest outside his residence, Matoshree, in response to his party’s MPs abstaining from voting on the bill, reported Buisness Today.
Thackeray, addressing the issue ahead of a major rally by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), asserted, “Be it Waqf Board properties, temples, or any other religious assets, I will not let anyone touch these properties at any cost. This is my promise.”
In a broader context, Thackeray also questioned why the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, had not been passed during the BJP’s tenure, despite their absolute majority in Parliament. He further referenced Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s allegations regarding the theft of over 200 kilograms of gold from Kedarnath, urging that such matters should also be thoroughly investigated.
Last month, Swami Avimukteshwaranand alleged that 228 kg of gold meant for lining the internal walls of Kedarnath temple had gone missing. The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee quickly dismissed these claims, accusing the Swami of pushing a political agenda and encouraging him to approach the authorities with any evidence.
The recent protest at Matoshree was fueled by frustration among the Muslim community over the absence of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs when the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. Protesters voiced their discontent with slogans and demanded answers from Uddhav on the party’s stance.
The bill has since been referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) following intense debate in the Parliament.
Thackeray’s firm stance comes at a critical juncture as Maharashtra gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, with the MVA rally scheduled to take place later in the day.
