Suspend Waqf Act, reconsider provisions: Mayawati to Centre
Lucknow, Apr 10 (PTI): Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday asked the Centre to reconsider the provisions in the new Waqf law and suspend it for the time being.
Mayawati noted that the recently passed Act's provision of including non-Muslims in the Waqf Board prima facie does not appear good.
"The provision allowing a non-Muslim to be a part of the State Waqf Board appears to be wrong and the Muslim community is also raising objections to it. It would be better if the central government reconsidered and suspended the Waqf Act to reform other similar controversial provisions," Mayawati told select news agencies in Lucknow on Thursday.
Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on April 4 after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate.
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha on April 3, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it. President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Bill on April 5.
Mayawati further said like the long-standing demand of Buddhist monks and followers for the sole control over the management of the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, the Muslim community too has raised genuine concerns about external interference in their religious matters.
"The BSP demands that the Centre immediately halt the implementation of the Waqf Act and address the concerns through necessary amendments. Just as Buddhists have protested the Mahabodhi Temple Management Act of 1949 -- enacted during the Congress era -- Muslims are also justified in opposing unnecessary interference in their religious affairs," she said.
Referring to the 1949 Bodh Gaya Temple Act, Mayawati pointed out that it allows for a management committee comprising four Hindus and four Buddhists, chaired by the district magistrate.
"This very structure is discriminatory and inappropriate, and a violation of the secular spirit of the Indian Constitution," she said.
"The Mahabodhi temple is a revered pilgrimage site for Buddhists across the world. Its management and religious duties should rest solely with Buddhist monks and followers. Government interference has led to tension and dissatisfaction among the Buddhist community," Mayawati added.
Drawing parallels, she said religious autonomy and management should lie with those who follow the faith.
"Whether it's the Waqf Board or the Bodh Gaya Temple, government interference, especially by members of other religions, creates avoidable disputes. The government must ensure that religious institutions are managed by those who practice the faith," she asserted.
Mayawati appealed to the NDA governments at the Centre and in Bihar to amend the Bodh Gaya Temple Act in accordance with constitutional secularism and the long-standing demands of the Buddhist community.
She reiterated the BSP's position that all religious communities should be given the autonomy to manage their religious institutions.
"Governments must shed political motives and act strictly according to the Constitution when dealing with religious issues. It is in the best interest of the nation," she said.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
