Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde (left), Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant (right) | YouTube/ Sansad TV
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, where the Shiv Sena (UBT) opposed the legislation. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena backed the bill, asserting that if Balasaheb Thackeray were alive, he would be pained to see Shiv Sena (UBT)’s dissent note.
On Wednesday, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde said Balasaheb Thackeray would have pained on reading the UBT’s dissent note.
“On behalf of Shiv Sena and my leader Eknath Shinde, I completely support this Bill. This is a historic and important day. First Article 370, then Triple Talaq and CAA, and now this Bill has been brought to this House for the welfare of the poor. I was pained upon hearing his (UBT’s Arvind Sawant) speech. It was very shocking,” Shrikant Shinde said.
He said the Shiv Sena UBT’s dissent note would have pained Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
“I would like to ask UBT a question, they should ask their conscience whether they would have spoken the same had Balasaheb (Thackeray) been alive today. It is clear today whose ideology UBT is adopting today and opposing this Bill. They had a golden opportunity to rectify their mistakes, rewrite their history and keep their ideology alive. But UBT bulldozed their ideology beforehand. Had Balasaheb been here today and read UBT’s dissent note, he would have been pained,” the Shinde said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, who was the member of the Joint Parliament Committee (JPC), on Wednesday, stated that clause-by-clause discussions were not held in the committee regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
Participating in the debate in Lok Sabha on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Sawant, said that the non-stakeholders were also called to the JPC.
“I am here to present my view on Waqf (Amendment) Bill. I, too, was a member of the JPC. Unfortunately, till the end, clause-by-clause discussions were not held in the JPC. Non-stakeholders were also called to the JPC, have always felt that there is a great difference between your words and actions. You do not want to do justice to anyone with this Bill. Do not think that what you are doing is right. I think you can only see Bihar elections now,” he said.
Earlier in the day, while moving the bill for passing in the lower house of the parliament, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the bill will not be applicable retrospectively and the Centre is not seeking more powers.
The bill was earlier presented in the Lok Sabha in August last year and a Joint Parliamentary Committee, headed by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, examined it.
The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards in the country, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records.
(Inputs From ANI)
