Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticizes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accuses BJP of appeasement

New Delhi [India], August 8 (ANI): Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday criticized the BJP for introducing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and said that religious matters are very sensitive and government should not make decisions in a hurry.
Gogoi accused BJP of trying to appease voters ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana and termed it as a strategy by the BJP to secure their position in the upcoming elections.
"Religious matters are very sensitive. We were always asking the government to not make decisions in a hurry. But it is now very clear that they do not intend to work for anyone's welfare and only focus on politics, and appeasement, and to save themselves in the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. We demanded to send this bill to a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee)", Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said while speaking to ANI.
Meanwhile, Mansoor Khan, the National President of the Sufi Islamic Board, commented on the misuse of the Waqf Board over the past 70 years.
He mentioned that they had made several suggestions to the Waqf Board, the most important being to transfer its control from the Minority Ministry to the Home Ministry.
"The manner in which Waf Board has been misused in last 70 years, we gave a few suggestions to the Waqf Board in wake of that. Our primary suggestion was that it should be taken out of the Minority Ministry and brought under Home Ministry so that all the encroachments can be removed and if something misuse happens, Home Ministry can intervene directly, file cases and prosecute...The Bill states that it would come under Collector. There is no issue, things will be better than before." On Oppositition's objection, he says, "...If they are opposing it, they should tell how much welfare for Muslims was done in 70 years by using Waqf land?...If they can show it, it will be justified. But if nothing has been done, why are they opposing it?," he asked.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to "effectively address" issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments, was introduced in Lok Sabha.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, was introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM strongly opposed the introduction of the bill, saying its provisions were against federalism and the constitutional provisions. While some members demanded the withdrawal of the bill, many suggested that should be sent to a standing committee. (ANI)