Hyderabad: AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly criticized the BJP-led NDA government over the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, arguing that they would undermine the autonomy of the Waqf Board and lead to administrative chaos.
Owaisi accused the BJP of advancing a "Hindutva agenda" and alleged that the RSS is intent on seizing Waqf properties. He claimed that the amendments are designed to strip the Waqf Board of its authority and infringe upon religious freedoms. "The real motive behind these amendments is to undermine the Waqf Board's autonomy and interfere with religious freedoms. The Modi government is targeting Waqf properties under the guise of reform," Owaisi asserted.
The Cabinet recently approved 40 amendments to the Waqf Act, with the bill expected to be introduced in Parliament next week. These amendments would mandate verification of all Waqf Board property claims. Currently, Waqf Boards oversee approximately 870,000 properties spanning about 940,000 acres.
According to sources, the proposed amendments would require mandatory verification of properties claimed by the Waqf Board, potentially leading to disputes over dargahs and mosques. Owaisi criticized the government for attempting to encroach on judicial authority, suggesting that the BJP and RSS are undermining religious institutions.
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