"Between 1913 and 2013 there was 18 lakh acre land total across India belonging to Waqf.. between 2013 to 2025, thanks to the 2013 law by the UPA government, the Waqf land went up to 39 lakh acres.... there was an increase in 21 lakh acre," Home Minister Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha.
He says, "I stand in support of the Bill introduced by my ministerial colleague. I have been carefully hearing the discussion going on since 12 noon...I feel that there are several misconceptions among several Members, either genuinely or politically.
"When amendments to the Waqf were introduced in 2013, Lalu Prasad Yadav stated that he wanted a strict law and wanted to put those in jail who were stealing. Narendra Modi has fulfilled Lalu Prasad Yadav's wishes." -- Amit Shah
Also, through this House, attempts are being made to spread those misconceptions across the country...".
Had there been no distortion on the matter by the UPA in 2013. today there would not have been any necessity to bring this new Bill, Shah said.
Making intervention during the debate on new Waqf Bill in Lok Sabha, he claimed there were so much discrepancies in the earlier Waqf law that even Lalu Prasad Yadav of RJD had called for overhauling of the system and to bring a new law.
Lalu Prasad had pointed out that apartments have come up in Waqf land in places like Patna, the Home Minister said.
"What Lalu ji desired, they (Opposition) did not do. But today Narendra Modi has done it," the Home Minister said.
He said: "...Waqf Act and Board came into effect in 1995. All the arguments about the inclusion of non-Muslims inclusion are about interference in the Waqf. First of all, no non-Muslim would come into the Waqf.
Understand this clearly...There is no such provision to include any non-Muslim among those who manage the religious institutions; we do not want to do this...
"This is a huge misconception that this Act will interfere with the religious conduct of Muslims and interfere with the property donated by them. This misconception is being spread to spread fear among minorities for their vote bank."
The new Bill today got endorsement by the JD-U and TDP members as well.
"The law is for justice ... It is a firm assertion of the BJP and the Modi government, we will bring no law for Vote bank politics," Shah said amid thumping of desks by treasury bench lawmakers.
"No non-Islamic member will be a part of Waqf. There is neither any provision for the appointment of a non-Muslim to manage the religious institution, nor do we intend to introduce any such provision.
A rumor is being spread that this Act is aimed at interfering with the religious practices of our Muslim brothers and their donated property. This is being done to instigate the minorities."
"You (Opposition) would break this country...Through this House, I would like to tell Muslims of the country that not even one non-Muslim would come into your Waqf. This Act has no such provision.
But what would the Waqf Board and Waqf Council do? To catch the people selling off Waqf properties and drive them out, to catch those who lease off their properties for 100 years in the name of Waqf.
The income of Waqf is dropping, the income with which we have to do development for minority and push them forward, that money is being stolen. Waqf Board and Council will catch that."
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