After the Lok Sabha passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the early hours of Thursday, Haryana Minister Anil Vij defended the legislation, stating that it was a crucial step to prevent fraud and theft.
The senior BJP leader, who holds the energy, transport, and labour portfolios in Haryana, asserted that the Bill was necessary to address loopholes in the existing law and rectify what he described as the Congress government’s past appeasement-driven policies.
Vij alleged that in 2013, under the Congress-led government, the Waqf Act had been amended in a way that allowed the Waqf Board to claim ownership of any land, shifting the burden of proof onto the individual who possessed the land.
According to Vij, this amendment put ordinary citizens in a precarious situation, as they could be forced to defend their ownership even if they had legally acquired or inherited their properties. He argued that had this provision remained unchanged, the Waqf Board could have indiscriminately laid claim to any land, creating widespread uncertainty and legal challenges for landowners.
Also Read: Waqf Bill passed by the Lok Sabha
He further emphasised that the latest amendment was intended to correct what he described as an injustice resulting from the Congress-led amendment. By removing provisions that allowed arbitrary claims on land, the current Bill aimed to restore balance and protect the rights of landowners, he said.
The Lok Sabha passed the Bill following a marathon 12-hour debate, during which the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) strongly defended the legislation as beneficial for minority communities, while the opposition sharply criticised it as "anti-Muslim" and an attack on religious autonomy.
Vij dismissed opposition concerns, asserting that the government works for the benefit of the general public and that the people welcomed its decisions. He claimed that there were celebrations across the country following the passage of the Bill, with people bursting fireworks and dancing in support of the move.
Also Read: What is Waqf Amendment Bill and why is it contentious?
According to him, the legislation was being misrepresented by certain religious leaders who, he alleged, were driven by political motives rather than genuine religious concerns.
Reacting to opposition leaders who described the passage of the Bill as a "dark day" for India's secular democracy, Vij countered by stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership would continue to shine in the country for years to come.
He remarked that while the opposition viewed this as a dark day, for them, it would remain a "dark night" as Modi's governance remained steadfast in implementing reforms.
His comments reflect the BJP’s strong defense of the Bill amid fierce criticism from opposition parties and sections of the Muslim community, who argue that the amendments undermine the autonomy of waqf institutions and erode protections for religious endowments.
Also Read: Waqf Bill an attack on constitution, to face SC test: Stalin
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