A political storm erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday as opposition MPs, including those who were part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, accused the government of attempting a large-scale ‘land grab’ under the guise of the new legislation.
Congress MP Syed Nasir Hussain warned that the Bill could set a precedent for similar actions against properties owned by other religious groups. “Today it is Waqf, tomorrow it will be gurdwara land, then temples. They (the government) want to snatch the land and give it to their friend (industrialist Gautam Adani),” he alleged.
Trinamool Congress MP Nadimul Haque echoed the concerns, stating that ‘millions of Indians’ would be affected if the Bill became law. AAP MP Sanjay Singh took a stronger stance, calling the Bill the “beginning of the capture” of Muslim properties. “This is the beginning of the government taking over mosques and dargahs. History will not forgive us. The Modi government wants to give all property to Adani and some capitalists,” Singh claimed.
However, the government strongly denied the allegations. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the JPC report, dismissing claims that opposition dissent notes were redacted. “Some opposition MPs raised objections, saying their dissent notes had been removed. The report, along with annexures, has been tabled. The chairman has the power to remove portions that cast aspersions on the committee,” Rijiju clarified.