"Everyone has right to protest": UP Minister Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh on Waqf Amendment Act

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 8 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Minister Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh said that everyone has the right to approach the court and state that the Parliament has the right to pass legislation following protests over the Waqf Amendment Act.,
Singh emphasised that the government would state its position on the matter.
Speaking on the issue to ANI, Singh said, "Everyone has the right to protest. Everyone has the right to move court. We will get to know what the Court does or does not do. The government will present its position. Parliament has the right to pass a Bill, and I don't think the Court will interfere."
He also addressed concerns over the alleged control of Waqf properties, asserting that "A lot of the land is falsely and forcibly controlled by the Waqf."
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP Ramgopal Yadav on Monday criticized the Waqf Amendment Act, calling it "absolutely unconstitutional." Yadav also expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will ultimately strike it down.
Speaking to ANI, Ramgopal Yadav accused the government of disregarding the Constitution and using the Act to divert public attention from pressing issues such as unemployment and inflation.
"The Act is absolutely unconstitutional. Government has formed this by overlooking the Constitution. This has been done to divert public's attention from unemployment, inflation, law and order. This has appealed against in the Court. I am confident that the Supreme Court will cancel this," the Samajwadi Party MP said.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the largest body of Islamic scholars in India, has moved to the Supreme Court, challenging the "constitutional validity" of the new law.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan and others also approached the Supreme Court.
On April 5, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament during the budget session of Parliament. The President also gave her assent to the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025. (ANI)