Hyderabad, Aug 9: YSR Congress Party is strongly opposed to Wakf (Amendment) Bill 2024 brought by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, said party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh S.B. Amjad Basha.
He condemned the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act and expressed the party’s firm opposition to these changes and called for the central government to immediately withdraw its decision.
He said that these amendments infringe upon the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution and added that the NDA government is attempting to undermine minority rights and religious freedom. Basha emphasized that once a property is donated to Waqf, it should remain under Waqf’s control permanently, and any amendments to this law are unjust.
He further stated that the NDA government is treating minorities as adversaries, pointing out that there are 9 lakh acres of land under Waqf across the country, and these amendments are a clear attempt to seize these properties.
“These amendments are unacceptable. We strongly condemn these amendments,” he said and pointed out that YSRCP MPs in Lok Sabha opposed the Bill.
On Lok Sabha Speaker referring the Bill to Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), he said this was also not acceptable to YSRCP. He demanded that the Bill be referred to the Select Committee.
He said the amendments violated Articles 14, 21 and 30 of the Indian Constitution which guaranteed fundamental and religious rights to minorities. He alleged that the NDA government is smashing the Constitution to smithereens.
“If a property is declared Wakf, it remains Wakf forever but the government is trying to change the very definition of Wakf. This is not acceptable,” he said and mentioned that all secular parties and minority organisations were opposing it.
Basha said amendments seek to dilute the powers of the Wakf Board to administer Wakf properties. “Wakf Boards have the powers to prepare the list of Wakf properties and the same is published in gazette but the same powers are being snatched from Wakf Board and are proposed to be given to revenue department and district collectors,” he said.
