The Delhi BJP staged a demonstration at Vijay Chowk and Rail Bhawan on Wednesday in a show of support for the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which is set for discussion and passage in the Lok Sabha. Led by Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, party members held placards reading, “Thank you, Modi, for ensuring a share for backward Muslims in the Waqf Bill.”
Addressing the gathering, Sachdeva defended the bill, stating that it aims to empower underprivileged Muslims and safeguard their legal rights. He questioned why opposition parties were resisting a measure designed for the welfare of the community.
The bill introduces significant amendments to the 1995 Wakf Act, including ensuring representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf boards. It seeks to remove Section 40, which grants boards the authority to determine if a property qualifies as Waqf property. Additionally, it proposes the formation of a separate board for Boharas and Aghakhanis, along with representation for Shias, Sunnis, and backward Muslim communities.
The legislation, if passed, will rename the existing act as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act, 1995.
With eight hours allotted for debate in the Lok Sabha, the government remains determined to pass the bill, while opposition parties stand united in denouncing it as unconstitutional. The Rajya Sabha is expected to take up the bill on Thursday, setting the stage for a heated political showdown.
