Opposition vows to oppose any bill to amend Waqf Act

Several opposition leaders on Monday alleged that the BJP-led government wants to bring a bill for amending the Wakf Act to create a divide in the society and asserted that they will strongly oppose such a legislation.

Several BJP leaders, however, strongly defended the imminent move, stressing that the Modi government has always worked with the intention of bringing transparency in every sphere.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said his party will oppose the Centre's move to bring a bill in Parliament to amend the 1995 law governing Waqf boards, and accused the BJP of trying to snatch the rights of Muslims.

"We will be against it (Wakf Act amendment bill)," Yadav told reporters when asked about the proposed amendment "BJP's only work is to divide Hindus and Muslims, snatch the rights of Muslim brothers and work on the manner in which to snatch the rights given to them in the Constitution," he said after paying tributes to late MP and party leader Janeshwar Mishra on his birth anniversary in Lucknow.

IUML's E T Mohammed Basheer said the move on the part of the government is ill-intentioned.

"A committee was appointed under K Rahman Khan and the BJP wanted to have a grip on the Waqf properties. They want to take custody of the Waqf properties.

"If such a legislation comes, we will very strongly oppose it. We will also speak with like-minded parties," he told reporters outside Parliament.

If the government goes ahead with the bill, it must be prepared for strong opposition, Basheer added.