PM Modi Fulfilled Lalu Prasad’s Wishes on Waqf Board: Amit Shah
The Waqf Amendment Bill, aimed at preventing the misuse of Waqf properties, has been a topic of debate in the Lok Sabha. The Opposition has been critical of the bill, calling it an attempt to bypass the Constitution and undermine the autonomy of Waqf boards. However, Home Minister Amit Shah took a swipe at the Opposition during the debate, citing a 2013 remark made by RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Shah said, “Lalu Prasad Yadav had called for a strong law to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties. While you (Opposition) couldn’t fulfill his vision, PM Narendra Modi did.” Shah was referring to a remark made by Lalu Yadav in 2013, where he had demanded a law against the sale of land by Waqf Boards.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, seeks to empower the Central Waqf Council to regulate the functioning of Waqf Boards across the country. The bill also aims to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties, including the sale of land by Waqf Boards without the permission of the Central Waqf Council.
The Opposition has been critical of the bill, saying it is an attempt to undermine the autonomy of Waqf Boards and bypass the Constitution. The Congress, for instance, has said that the bill is an attempt to centralize the control of Waqf Boards and undermine the role of state governments.
However, Shah’s remark about Lalu Prasad Yadav’s 2013 remark has sparked a controversy. Many have questioned why Shah is citing a remark made by Lalu Yadav, who is a leader of the Opposition, to justify the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Lalu Prasad Yadav had made the remark in 2013 during a rally in Bihar, where he had demanded a law to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties. He had said, “We want a law to prevent the sale of Waqf land. We want to ensure that Waqf land is used for the benefit of the Muslim community, and not for personal gain.”
The remark was made in the context of a controversy surrounding the sale of Waqf land by the then-BJP government in Bihar. The government had sold off a large tract of Waqf land to a private company, sparking widespread protests from Muslim groups and opposition parties.
The Opposition has been critical of Shah’s remark, saying it is an attempt to misquote Lalu Prasad Yadav and justify the Waqf Amendment Bill. “Amit Shah is trying to misquote Lalu Prasad Yadav to justify the Waqf Amendment Bill,” said Congress leader Kapil Sibal. “Lalu Prasad Yadav never said that the government should take away the autonomy of Waqf Boards. He only said that there should be a law to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties.”
The controversy has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many taking to Twitter to express their opinions on the issue. Some have praised Shah’s remark, saying it is a clever way to undermine the Opposition’s criticism of the Waqf Amendment Bill. Others have criticized the remark, saying it is an attempt to misquote Lalu Prasad Yadav and justify the bill.
The controversy has also sparked a debate on the role of Waqf Boards in India. Waqf Boards are institutions that manage Waqf properties, which are religious endowments intended to benefit the Muslim community. The controversy surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill has highlighted concerns about the misuse of Waqf properties and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of these properties.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill and Amit Shah’s remark about Lalu Prasad Yadav’s 2013 remark has sparked a heated debate on the role of Waqf Boards in India. While the bill seeks to empower the Central Waqf Council to regulate the functioning of Waqf Boards, the Opposition has been critical of the bill, saying it is an attempt to undermine the autonomy of Waqf Boards and bypass the Constitution.
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