Reportedly West bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on thursday described the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as “anti-secular", alleging that it would snatch the rights of Muslims. Banerjee, speaking in the assembly, also said the Centre did not consult with states over the matter. She said “The Bill is anti-federal and anti-secular. It is a deliberate attempt to malign a particular section. It will snatch the rights of Muslims… The Centre did not consult us on the Waqf Bill".
Meanwhile the chief minister added that “if any religion were attacked", she would wholeheartedly condemn it. Opposition parties have stridently criticised the amendments proposed by the Bill in the existing Waqf Act, alleging that they violate the religious rights of Muslims. The ruling bjp has asserted that the amendments will bring transparency to the functioning of the Waqf boards and make them accountable. A parliamentary committee has been constituted to scrutinise the contentious Bill. The chief minister said that the Waqf matters were brought under an Act during the british era in 1934 and after Independence, it was amended and there was another amendment in 1995.
Moreover Banerjee claimed that besides Muslims, Hindus and people belonging to other religions donate to Waqf properties for the development of the people. She said “Hindu, Muslim, Sikhs, Isaiah are all our friends. We are for everybody and not for a single religion. But if there is torture in any religion, we condemn this. I think this (Waqf amendment bill) has been done for political reasons”.
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