After Waqf, BJP eying temple lands for friends: Uddhav Thackarey
In a scathing attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has alleged that the party is now eyeing land belonging to minority communities, including Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and even Hindu temples. Thackeray claimed that the BJP is planning to give prime land to its friends and has no love for any community.
The allegations come after the BJP-led government recently passed the Waqf Amendment Bill, which aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties. However, Thackeray has accused the BJP of using the bill as a ploy to grab land from minority communities.
“They will give prime land to their friends. They have no love for any community,” Thackeray said during a press conference. “In the past, they took over Waqf properties, and now they are eyeing lands belonging to Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and even Hindu temples.”
Thackeray’s remarks are likely to spark controversy in the run-up to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which are scheduled to take place later this year. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has been a key ally of the BJP in the past, but the two parties have been at loggerheads over several issues in recent months.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, which was passed by Parliament earlier this month, aims to reform the Waqf Properties Act, 1995. The new law is expected to bring more transparency and accountability to the management of Waqf properties, which are owned by Muslims and are used for religious and charitable purposes.
However, Thackeray has accused the BJP of using the bill to further its own interests. “The BJP is trying to take over all properties, including those belonging to minorities,” he said. “They have no qualms about cheating and looting the public.”
Thackeray also claimed that the BJP is planning to use the Waqf Amendment Bill as a precedent to grab land from other minority communities. “They will take over lands belonging to Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and even Hindu temples,” he warned. “The BJP has no love for any community, and its only interest is in accumulating wealth and power.”
In a surprise move, Thackeray announced that the Shiv Sena (UBT) will not move court over the Waqf Amendment Bill. “We will not challenge the bill in court,” he said. “Instead, we will expose the BJP’s intentions and fight against it at the polls.”
Thackeray’s decision not to challenge the bill in court is likely to be seen as a strategic move to focus on the upcoming elections. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is keen to regain its lost ground in Maharashtra and is likely to use Thackeray’s remarks to woo voters.
The BJP, on the other hand, has dismissed Thackeray’s allegations as baseless and motivated by political considerations. “The Waqf Amendment Bill is a necessary step to reform the management of Waqf properties,” a BJP spokesperson said. “We are committed to ensuring that all communities have equal access to these properties and that they are used for their intended purposes.”
As the political drama unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Shiv Sena (UBT) will fare in the upcoming elections. Will Thackeray’s allegations against the BJP help the party regain its lost ground, or will they boomerang and hurt the party’s prospects? Only time will tell.
Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/abcf982b-911d-4bd5-a050-29e23559a01c
