Central govt. targeting Muslims in the name of Waqf Bill: Mamata

West Bengal CM criticizes BJP over proposed Waqf property legislations, accusing them of targeting Muslims and fostering divisiveness.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government over the two proposed legislations on Waqf properties, accusing it of targeting Muslims and “fostering divisiveness, neglecting Constitutional norms, and mishandling issues like the one involving Bangladesh’s minority Hindu population, the National Register of Citizens, the Uniform Civil Code, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act”.

The Chief Minister, during a debate in the West Bengal Assembly on a resolution opposing the two proposed legislations, said the majority must protect the interest of the minorities. “Why is a single religion being targeted in the name of this Waqf (Amendment) Bill? Why are Muslims being targeted? Would you dare to do the same with the properties of various Hindu temple trusts or churches?” Ms. Banerjee said. The Chief Minister alleged that the Centre had “bypassed” State governments over the matter and did not consult the Bengal government on such important legislations.

She said the Bills have been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) because of the Opposition by Trinamool Congress members.

On August 8, two bills, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, were introduced in the Lok Sabha with an aim to streamline the Waqf Board’s work and ensure the efficient management of Waqf properties.

The resolution, tabled in the Assembly by West Bengal’s Parliamentary Affairs Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, stated that the Bills violates the provisions of Article 26 and 30 of the Constitution of India and the provisions fall far short for reforms as they are not in tune with the changing needs of the time. The debate on the resolution brought under Rule 169 of State Assembly will again come for discussion on Tuesday.

Participating in the debate, BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh said that the Bills tabled in Parliament are not political but practical laws meant to bring accountability. The BJP legislator said the time of the State Assembly was being wasted by discussing something that falls under the purview of Parliament.

From the Trinamool Congress, Minister Bratya Basu and MLA Mosarraf Hossain participated in the debate while Sikha Chatterjee, Ananadmoy Burman and Biswanath Karak were among those who spoke from the BJP. Heated exchanges took place in the House when the BJP leaders raised the issue that certain people are claiming that various properties, including the Eden Gardens and Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, are Waqf properties.