The Waqf Amendment Act has sparked political debate, with leaders from various parties offering different perspectives on its impact. Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended the amendments during a rally, stating, “The new provisions will also honour the sacred spirit of Waqf. The poor and Pasmanda families of the Muslim community, Muslim women, especially Muslim widows, and Muslim children will receive their rights, and their rights will be safeguarded in the future. This is exactly what Baba Saheb Ambedkar intended when he created the Constitution's spirit for us to follow.”
In contrast, opposition leaders have questioned the law's implications. Omar Abdullah said, “My party has already filed a petition in front of the Supreme Court… We believe that this piece of legislation has targeted one particular religion… We are supposed to be a secular state. All religions are supposed to be treated equally. We believe that we have a right to be treated equally. We want the Supreme Court to adjudicate on this.”
PM Modi defends Waqf law amendments
Prime Minister Modi defended the Waqf Amendment Act, saying, “There are lakhs of hectares of land registered under Waqf. This land should have been used for the welfare of the poor, helpless women, and children. If it had been used honestly, my Muslim youth wouldn’t have to make a living by fixing punctures. But instead, only a handful of land mafias have benefitted from these properties.”He added, “The new provisions will also honour the sacred spirit of Waqf. The poor and Pasmanda families of the Muslim community, Muslim women, especially Muslim widows, and Muslim children will receive their rights, and their rights will be safeguarded in the future. This is exactly what Baba Saheb Ambedkar intended when he created the Constitution's spirit for us to follow.”
Congress questions Waqf Amendment Act
Congress MP Imran Masood questioned the Waqf Amendment Act, saying, “You (BJP) are insulting the Constitution the most. By bringing the Waqf Amendment Act, you have trampled the Constitution. You have completely abolished Sections 25 and 26 of the Constitution. You had talked about changing the entire Constitution, but you did not get the opportunity as you did not cross 400 seats.”