"Once a Waqf, Always a Waqf? Not Anymore," says BJP as Waqf Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha
New Delhi: The controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which has been widely criticised by Muslim organisations and opposition parties, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took to X (formerly Twitter) to express its support for the Bill, stating that it "brings in accountability, puts people's rights first, and ends unchecked monopolies."
"Once a Waqf, always a Waqf? Not anymore," the BJP wrote on X, emphasising four key reasons why the Waqf Amendment Bill is necessary.
The saffron party argued that under the new Bill, Waqf Boards would no longer have the power to self-declare land as Waqf property. It further pointed out that Waqf boards would no longer be required to disclose land records or financial transactions.
Another significant amendment, according to the BJP, is that disputes over Waqf properties will now be heard in civil courts, ending the Waqf’s exclusive control over land-related cases. The Bill also aims to amend special protections that had previously prevented courts from hearing Waqf disputes.
Additionally, the party highlighted that the Bill ensures women’s representation in Waqf administration. The BJP noted that these amendments are critical for promoting social justice and equality.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha. The government claims that the amendments will streamline the functioning of Waqf Boards and improve the management of Waqf properties.
"The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution. The changes made in the Waqf law by the UPA government gave it overriding effect over other statutes, hence the new amendments were required," he said amid noisy opposition protest.
Once a Waqf, always a Waqf...?
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 2, 2025
Not anymore❌
The Waqf Amendment Bill brings in accountability, puts people’s rights first, and ends unchecked monopolies.
✅ Full digitalization of Waqf properties 💻
✅ Ensuring women’s representation in Waqf administration
✅… pic.twitter.com/yXVX51qJ15
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'Scams, kickbacks and favoritism have become order of the day' in Karnataka: BJP
New Delhi(PTI): The BJP on Friday said the Congress government in Karnataka may not last long with corruption and appeasement politics becoming the “order of the day” in the state.
This came after the Karnataka State Contractors Association (KSCA) on Thursday claimed that "unseen hands and brokers" were active in the offices of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and two other senior Cabinet Ministers, alleging that the menace of commission in the state was now more than the previous BJP government.
Responding to the allegations, the deputy chief minister on Friday suggested that if anyone has demanded commission from the contractors to pay their bills, then they should file a complaint with the Lokayukta.
“In Karnataka, corruption is at its peak in an organised manner,” BJP national spokesperson Pratyush Kanth told a press conference at party headquarters here, reacting to the development.
“You have institutionalised corruption. Only big contracts are getting their bills cleared. The medium and the small ones are struggling,” he said.
Kanth said the Congress had promised “so many things” during the state assembly polls but “scams, kickbacks and favoritism have become order of the day” under the party’s rule in the state.
While the crisis of “water and electricity bills” continues in Karnataka, the road taxes on new vehicles and bus fares have gone up, he said.
“The common people are bleeding there…This corrupt government is not going to last long. This project of Rahul Gandhi to ensure corruption all over KA is not going to have the light of the day,” he added.
Citing recent remarks reportedly made by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy, the BJP spokesperson said people in power, who run the state, are now saying that the state has become number one in corruption.
“Even the revenue minister of Karnataka had (earlier) gone on record to say that there is a lot of corruption in his department…This is very disturbing because Karnataka has to be the ‘khata khat model’ of Rahul Gandhi,” he said, taking a swipe at the Congress leader.
Rayareddy, who was reported to have recently said at an event that Karnataka is number one in corruption, later clarified that his remarks were misquoted and taken out of context.
