Will not interfere with Muslims' religious matters: Govt on Waqf

LEADERS FROM THE TDP, JD(U), LJP (RV), SHIV SENA AND RLD PITCHED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE WAQF BILL DURING THE DEBATE IN THE LOWER HOUSE

- Abhishek Angad

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday led the government's defence of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, saying the modifications in the law have been brought to ensure transparent administration of Waqf properties, adding that the Centre had no intention of interfering in the religious matters of the Muslim community.

Making an intervention during a day-long debate on the bill, which was tabled by minorities affairs minister Kiren Rijiju in the Lower House, Shah said no "non-Muslim" members in waqf boards or council will interfere in the religious activities and that their role will be confined to the administration.

Alleging that vote bank was being created by intimidating minorities, Shah said the amendments were necessitated after the Congress-led UPA government altered the Waqf Act in 2013 for its "appeasement" politics, making the law "extreme".

"Elections were due in 2014 and in 2013, the extreme Waqf law was made overnight for the purpose of appeasement. As a result, 123 properties in Delhi's Lutyens zone were handed over to the Waqf just 25 days before the elections," he said, citing several instances from across the country about vast properties being claimed by different state Waqf boards.

"The Narendra Modi government runs on a very clear principle that we will not bring any law for vote bank because law is for justice and welfare of people," he said. "Everyone has the right to follow their religion, but conversion cannot be done for greed, temptation and fear."

Shah said vote bank is being created by intimidating minorities and confusion is being spread in the country by creating an atmosphere of fear among the minorities.

Noting that there was no provision earlier to include any non-Muslim person among those who run religious institutions, the home minister said the NDA government is not going to change that.