Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said India has the largest waqf estate and they should be utilized for the welfare of the Muslim community and urged all MPs to support the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. I appealed.
Badruddin Ajmal, leader of the All India United Democratic Front. (ANI file)
The minister’s statement comes in the wake of the controversy raised by AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal, who claimed that the National Assembly building and surrounding areas in the national capital are being built on waqf premises.
“We appeal to all MPs to support the Waqf Amendment Bill. Parliament buildings, municipal buildings, airports, cities and villages need protection. India has the largest waqf estate in the world. We must utilize them for the welfare of women, children and backward groups within the Muslim community,” Rijiju wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Badruddin Ajmal also claimed that the area around Basant Vihar up to the capital’s airport is being built on waqf premises.
“Using waqf land without permission is wrong. They will soon lose their jobs over this waqf board issue,” he added.
Reacting to his claims, Bharatiya Janata Party’s national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that Badruddin Ajmal is a man of appeasement as his entire vote bank supported the Congress, leading to its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. He said he was involved in politics.
“I would like to say to these leaders, do not disrespect the Constitution while indulging in appeasement politics. If it were up to them, they would claim any land as waqf land. That’s why I’m here,” Bhandari said.
Meanwhile, opposition members have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding the “serious violation” of the parliamentary code of conduct during the joint parliamentary committee meeting on Wakf (Amendment) Bill 2024.
In a letter, opposition members accused chairperson Jagdambika Pal of violating the parliamentary code of conduct and procedural rules multiple times during a meeting held in New Delhi on October 14.
