PM says law honours Waqf sanctity, slams opposition

Modi accuses Congress of appeasement politics, dares it to appoint a Muslim party President; PM dedicates projects worth RsIO,OOOcr to Haryana

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Taking a dig at the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused it of appeasement politics, challenged it to appoint a Muslim party President and criticised its opposition to the amended Waqf Act saying that the new provisions honours the sanctity of Waqf and also ensured the rights of poor.

"If the party truly cared for the Muslim community, they would have appointed a Muslim as their party president or allocated 50 per cent of their tickets to Muslim candidates," said PM at a public meeting in Hisar city, stating that their intentions were never aligned with the genuine welfare of Muslims, exposing their true nature.

Highlighting the vast tracts of land under Waqf, meant to benefit the poor, destitute women and children, were instead exploited by a handful of land mafias, PM said these mafias were encroaching on lands belonging to Dalits, backward classes, and tribals, leaving the Pasmanda Muslim community without any benefits.

He mentioned that amendments to the Waqf Act will put an end to such exploitation, emphasising a significant new provision in the amended law, ensuring that tribal lands cannot be touched by Waqf boards.