Govt's 'excessive interest' in religious matters against Constitution: Mayawati
BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday targeted the central and Uttar Pradesh governments over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying their "forceful interference" in matters of mosques, madrasas, and Waqf was against the country's Constitution.
In a series of posts on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day, should be sent to the Standing Committee of the House for better consideration.
"The forceful interference of the central and UP governments in the matters of mosques, madrasas, and Waqf, and taking excessive interest in religious matters like temples and monasteries is against the Constitution and its principle of secularism. Is such narrow and selfish politics necessary? The government should fulfil its national duties," Mayawati said in one of the posts in Hindi.
The Congress and the BJP have been reaping electoral gains by indulging in politics of religion and caste. But now it is time to focus on saving reservation, and ending poverty, unemployment, inflation, and backwardness, she said in another post.
"In view of the doubts, apprehensions and objections raised on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill presented in Parliament today, it is appropriate to send this Bill to the Standing Committee of the House for better consideration. It would be better if the government does not hurry on such sensitive issues," she added.
Update: 2024-08-08 10:27 GMT