"Mamata Banerjee fueling violence...": Kiren Rijiju slams Bengal CM's stand on Waqf Act, condemns violence in state

New Delhi [India], April 16 (ANI): Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of having fueled violence in the state by her stance on the Waqf Amendment Act and said she may have differences but cannot say that a particular law will not be implemented in the state.
In an interview with ANI, Rijiju said that Banerjee's defiance of a law passed by Parliament undermines constitutional propriety and sends a dangerous message.
"In the long run, whatever the Chief Minister of West Bengal and some of the political parties are doing will have deep negative repercussions in terms of establishing not only the rule of law, but its propriety of the Constitution. Law and order is a state subject," he said.
Rijiju said the Chief Minister's declaration that the Waqf Amendment Act will not be implemented in West Bengal is a matter of serious concern. "Now the Chief Minister herself in West Bengal says that she will not accept and will not implement this Act in her state. That will be construed as defying the constitutional spirits and also at the same time instigating the people."
Referring to recent incidents in Murshidabad and other parts of Bengal, Rijiju claimed that the violence was a direct result of political rhetoric.
"The violence which had happened in Murshidabad and other parts of West Bengal and we do see sporadic incidents elsewhere--these are the result of unmindful political statements given by Mamata Banerjee and some of the political leaders, which is condemnable. I fail to understand that sitting in such a high position, she is undermining her own position."
He added that the responsibility for law and order lies with the state government. "For example, the violence in West Bengal--who has to contain the violence? The state government. The person who is in charge of the law and order situation in the state--she herself is fueling this kind of violence, leading to the death of innocent people."
Asked why he believed Banerjee was fuelling the unrest, Rijiju responded, "She is openly saying that she doesn't accept the law? We have to understand one thing. In a democracy, any law passed by the Parliament--it may not have 100 per cent support within the House, because the House is composed of representatives from all the states and union territories--and the majority of the members come together and make the law. Now, when the members make the law, it is the law of the Parliament, which means law of the nation."
"So if you don't agree also, it is passed by majority. So, the majority passing a bill becomes an Act. She may not like it. She may not be aligned with our thought or the government of the day's thought. But then, how can she say that she will not implement this particular law in her state? That itself is a questionable stand."
Rijiju also addressed the response from other states where non-BJP parties are in power, such as Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. "First of all...a large section of Muslim community is wholeheartedly welcoming this Act. The requirement for change in the Waqf Act, the necessary amendment which we have made, have, in fact, been suggested by the committees which were formed during the Congress time."
"If you see the 1976 Waqf inquiry report, the Sachar Committee report, and K Rehman Khan report, they all talked about making the management of the Waqf property in a much more efficient, transparent, and accountable manner. That is exactly what we have done."
Rijiju said the benefits of Waqf properties should reach the needy among the Muslim community. "Waqf properties in India are the largest Waqf properties in the world," he said.
He also said that Waqf properties can, in no way, be compared to the defence and railway properties.
The minister said Waqf Act has been enacted after detailed consultations and there is no question of snatching somebody's property.
"The purpose (of waqf) is charitable, pious, and religious purpose...Waqf properties are being mismanaged by few of the powerful people who are, very surreptitiously, mishandling the entire waqf properties, and few families are enjoying the fruits of these properties. What about the 90 per cent, the larger section of the Muslim community, the weaker sections, the children, the women? What we have done is we have made sure that the misuse will be prevented in future. And I must tell you, we knew it. We will have this kind of resistance because those powerful people who are misusing so much of Waqf properties will definitely not give up easily. They will resist. And that is what we are seeing. But what we are saying is, let people read the provisions of the Act and tell us if there is any provision which harms the Muslim community. Muslims are also Indians. Shouldn't we think about the Muslim community? How can we leave aside one community and let all the irregularities keep on happening unchecked?" the minister asked. (ANI)