Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, April 2: Former chief minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has accused the Congress party of encroaching upon Waqf properties and opposing the amendment Bill to cover up these encroachments.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Bommai claimed that Congress leaders were attempting to obstruct the legislation aimed at correcting these irregularities.

Bommai explained that the Waqf Bill, introduced in the 1950s and amended in 1990 and 2013, was not a new initiative. "The current amendment is not a new development. The Waqf Bill has seen previous amendments, and the aim now is to rectify certain issues that remain unresolved," he said.

He added that prior to 2013, a committee led by former Union Minister K. Rahman Khan had made several recommendations regarding Waqf properties, but the UPA government had only partially implemented these suggestions, leaving out key measures.

According to Bommai, the amendments made in 1990 and 2013 had placed Waqf properties above all other laws, even preventing the Supreme Court from intervening. He pointed out that this legal framework created complications and left Waqf properties outside the purview of the Revenue Act, which is otherwise considered supreme for all communities in India.

“The legal framework of the country is vast, and the Constitution is supreme,” Bommai said. "However, the earlier amendments made Waqf properties an exception, placing them above all other laws. The current amendment is an attempt to correct this imbalance."

Bommai also highlighted the ongoing legal disputes surrounding Waqf properties in Karnataka, specifically pointing out that many of these properties had ended up under the control of Congress leaders.

"Muslim-owned properties have been handed over to Waqf, and in Karnataka, many Waqf properties have been taken over by Congress leaders," he claimed.

The BJP MP stressed that the Revenue Act should be applied uniformly across all communities and that it should be considered the supreme law for all, including Waqf properties.

He further noted that the Joint Parliamentary Committee had conducted widespread discussions and sought public opinion on the proposed amendments, with several communities, including Muslims, Christians, and the Ajmer Dargah administration, expressing support for the changes.

Bommai assured that undisputed Waqf properties would continue to remain as Waqf assets under the proposed amendments and emphasised that the changes were in line with the country’s legal framework.

"The amendments will ensure that Waqf properties are properly regulated, while maintaining respect for the legal rights of all parties," he stated.

Regarding the Congress' objection to including Hindus in the Muslim Waqf Board, Bommai pointed out that in coastal regions, many temples under the Muzrai Department have had Muslim administrators.

"In the coastal region, several temples administered by the Muzrai Department have had Muslim administrators. Therefore, the objection raised by Congress is unfounded," he said.