Amid strong resistance from various quarters to the passage of the Waqf Bill, Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore on Saturday alleged that “musclemen” had encroached upon Waqf Board land and constructed hotels and mansions, while poor Muslims were left to earn a living by repairing punctures.
He said the Waqf (Amendment) Act would prove to be significant in securing the rights of poor Muslims and women.
“Musclemen have occupied Waqf Board land and built hotels and mansions, while poor Muslims were not allowed to go beyond repairing punctures,” Rathore stated at a press conference.
He added that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill had been passed by both Houses of Parliament and had received Presidential assent, making it a law.
“Poor Muslim citizens should benefit from this law. Following its implementation, registration of Waqf properties will become mandatory, ensuring that the land remains under the Board’s control,” he said.
Rathore noted that members of the Muslim community, including women, would be given representation in the Waqf Committee.
He also claimed that at the time of Partition, properties of people who migrated to Pakistan were handed over to the Waqf, whereas the properties of Hindus who came from Pakistan were occupied by others there.
He alleged that the area under Waqf Board control had doubled since 2006 — from 4 lakh acres to 8 lakh acres — but that there had been no proportional increase in its reported income.
In 2006, income from Waqf properties was reported at ₹163 crore, which has now increased by only ₹3 crore to ₹166 crore, he claimed.
Rathore further stated that the Waqf Board had failed to assist the needy, and its resources had been misused by those with influence.
While political parties have opposed the Bill for their own political survival, uproar has also been seen among clerics and leaders of certain Muslim organisations. However, some have welcomed the move as a step towards the betterment of genuine beneficiaries.
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