Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly defended the Waqf Amendment Bill during a Lok Sabha debate on Wednesday, accusing opposition parties of deliberately spreading misinformation about the legislation.
During his address to the lower house, Shah categorically stated that the government has no intention of appointing non-Muslims to manage Islamic religious institutions.
“We have neither provisioned nor intend to appoint non-Muslims to manage religious institutions,” Shah asserted. “No non-Islamic member will be a part of Waqf.”
The Home Minister emphasized that rumors suggesting the bill would interfere with Muslim religious practices were being circulated with political motives. “This misinformation is being spread to instill fear in minorities and to appease specific voter demographics,” he said.
Shah clarified the purpose of the Waqf law, explaining that it exists to regulate donated properties and ensure they are being administered properly and used for their intended purposes, whether for Islamic religious activities or for the upliftment of the poor.
He reminded the house that the Waqf Parishad and Waqf Board have been functioning since their establishment in 1995, suggesting that the current amendments were aimed at improving existing systems rather than fundamentally altering them.
“A rumor is being spread that this Act is aimed at interfering with the religious practices of our Muslim brothers and their donated property. This is being done to intimidate the minorities,” Shah concluded, urging lawmakers to consider the bill on its merits rather than based on misconceptions.
The debate continues as the government pushes forward with the controversial legislation amidst significant opposition criticism.
