"Radicals controlling waqf properties today; bill should be passed": President of Indian Sufi Foundation on Waqf (Amendment) Bill

Barabanki (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 8 (ANI): Defending the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, presented by the Centre today in the Lok Sabha, Kashish Warsi, the President of the Indian Sufi Foundation said on Tuesday that radicals are controlling the Waqf properties today, asserting that after a good debate, the bill should be passed.
Warsi said, "The Bill has been referred to JPC. It is a new initiative, and suggestions have been invited and the same should be offered. As far as Shariat is concerned, it has nothing to do with Shariat. I say this responsibly - radicals are controlling the Waqf properties today, they are enemies of Sufism. Properties should be freed of them and a committee of Sufis should be set up. Secondly, dargah and mazar are for offering food to the poor, and not to fill one's own pockets. Mazars are being controlled by radicals, they are filling their pockets. There should be a good debate on this Bill and it should be passed."
Earlier, AIMIM Chief and Hyderabad MP, Asaduddin Owaisi said on Tuesday that there are a lot of dangerous sections and it is not legislation but something to bulldoze Waqf and finish Muslims.
"Before the introduction of the Bill, we had sent a notice to the Speaker - under Rule 72 - that we are against the introduction of this Bill. We believe that this Bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15 and 25. This Bill violates the basic structure of the Constitution. It especially violates judicial independence and separations of powers. You want to snatch away the mosques that are being claimed by the RSS, snatch away the dargahs that are being claimed by right-wing Hindutva organisations. By removing the Waqf by User, you are asking them to bring the documents. If the 400-year-old document is not there, what changes will you make?" Owaisi asked.
"There are a lot of sections herein that are dangerous. They are not in favour of the Waqf Board but are instead trying to finish it off. All their arguments are false. This is not legislation but something to bulldoze Waqf and finish Muslims," he added.
Meanwhile, targeting the Opposition over "misleading Muslims" on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday that Muslim delegations approached him alleging mafia has taken over Waqf Boards and there is a need for amendments.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju said, "They (Opposition) are misleading Muslims. Till last night, Muslim delegations came to me. Many MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have said that they support the bill but can't say it due to their political parties. I will not take anyone's name so that their political career is not ruined." (ANI)