Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has welcomed the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, calling it a significant step toward reclaiming public land for development and welfare. Emphasizing the misuse of land under the Waqf Board for years, the Chief Minister said that the new law will put an end to land grabbing in the name of religion and ensure that public property is used for the greater good.
“Now, no one can rob lands in the name of the Waqf Board… Public property and revenue lands will now be used to build schools, colleges, hospitals, or housing for the poor… I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for this because, in Uttar Pradesh, too, lakhs of acres of land had been illegally occupied in the name of the Waqf Board. It had become a means of loot for some people. Now, this looting will be curbed…” Yogi Adityanath said while addressing the media.
#WATCH | Maharajganj, UP | On the Waqf Amendment Bill passed in Parliament, UP CM Yogi Adityanath says, "... Now, no one can rob lands in the name of the Waqf Board... Public property and revenue lands will now be used to build schools, colleges, hospitals, or housing for the… pic.twitter.com/8CLNMS4bZV
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2025
The Chief Minister’s statement came in the backdrop of heated debates over the Waqf Amendment Bill, which aims to streamline the functioning of the Waqf Board and eliminate illegal encroachments on government land under the guise of religious management.
Yogi Adityanath also praised the Centre's leadership in ensuring that public land is returned to its rightful purpose — serving the people. “Land that could have been used for public infrastructure was being misused for decades. With this legislation, the era of illegal occupation ends, and an era of transparent and people-centric governance begins,” he added.
The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill marks a major milestone in the BJP-led government’s commitment to equitable development, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas."
