Amit Shah slams fearmongering over Waqf Bill

New Delhi

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized attempts to spread fear about the Waqf amendment bill, stating that it does not interfere in Muslim religious matters or properties donated by them.

During a debate in the Lok Sabha, Shah clarified that non-Muslim members in Waqf councils and boards are included only for administrative purposes. He emphasized that Waqf properties are charitable donations meant for social, religious, or public welfare, and no one can donate government land.

Shah accused certain groups of misleading minorities for vote bank politics by creating unnecessary fear. He assured that the NDA government has no plans to allow non-Muslims to manage religious institutions.

"To those who give big speeches that the right to equality has ended or there will be discrimination between two religions or the religious rights of Muslims will be interfered with, I want to tell them that nothing like this is going to happen," Shah asserted.

He further pointed out that the Waqf law was made more rigid in 2013 for political appeasement before elections. If the law had been adjusted then, he argued, the current amendment would not have been necessary.