New Delhi [India], April 1 : BJP MP Dinesh Sharma on Tuesday backed the Waqf Amendment Bill, saying that it is like a "dream come true" for underprivileged Muslims.
Sharma stated that this bill will end the plight of the poor Muslims and would work as a roadmap for their education, employment and other basic needs.
"... Waqf is like a dream come true for poor Muslims. This is going to fix their plight. This bill is going to end the corruption prevailing in Waqf and the nexus of real estate and builders. This bill will be the roadmap for the underprivileged education, employment, house, and basic needs," Sharma told ANI.
The BJP MP further stated that neither government nor anyone else would take an inch of land of Waqf Board after this bill and one who opposes this amendment is against the Constitution of India and BR Ambedkar.
He said, "In this bill, neither the government nor anyone else is taking an inch of land of Waqf... If someone opposes this amendment, then I think he is against the Constitution and against Bhim Rao Ambedkar."
Earlier today, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that the government will table the Waqf Amendment Bill like any other bill and assured that no legislation is introduced against the Constitution.
Speaking to reporters, Singh said, "The government tables every bill; it will do the same with the Waqf Amendment Bill. Congress should understand that no bill is brought in the Parliament against the constitution."
Earlier, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju highlighted the need for an informed and constructive discussion on the bill, urging all parties to participate in the legislative debate.
"My appeal to all is that as we prepare to introduce the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, we must participate in the debate and discussion in the House. Outside Parliament, there have been a record number of consultations and deliberations. The JPC has gone on record for the most comprehensive consultation process and the highest representation ever in the history of democratic India," he said.
However, the opposition parties are criticising the Waqf Amendment Bill. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav accused the ruling party BJP of undermining communal harmony in the country.
Speaking to ANI, Ram Gopal Yadav said, "A plan was made to spoil the communal harmony in this country. The Waqf Amendment Bill was rushed through the JPC, passed quickly and forcefully. The opposition was given a 1000-page report to read just a day before, with no time to review it thoroughly."
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his strong opposition on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of "interfering" in everything to gain control.
"We are against the Waqf Board Bill because the BJP wants to interfere in everything. They want control everywhere," Yadav said.
Congress leader Harish Rawat said that it was the government's rigidity which would harm the harmony of the country.
He further stated that if the minorities were pushed further backwards, they would become lonely which would increase extremism and other issues in the country.
Speaking to ANI, Rawat said "This is nothing but their (Central Government) rigidity, and the harmony of this country will suffer the consequences of this rigidity."
"If minorities are pushed further backwards, they will become lonely, which will increase extremism and other issues..." he further stated.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also called the 'Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill', aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.