Supreme Court’s Decision on Waqf Amendment Bill 'Supreme Slap' on Modi Govt: Sanjay Singh

The Supreme Court on Monday struck down key provisions of the Waqf Amendment Bill, prompting strong criticism of the Modi government from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh. Calling the verdict a “supreme slap” on the Centre, Singh alleged the Bill was meant to take over Waqf land and hand it to the government’s capitalist friends. He said the decision upholds the constitutional rights of all religious communities and accused the BJP of ignoring opposition advice and wasting Parliament’s time on an “unconstitutional” law.

Plan to Hand Over Waqf Land to Capitalist Friends Fails

At a press conference on Monday, Sanjay Singh said that after a long battle the Supreme Court has delivered its verdict on the Waqf Amendment Bill. This decision has left the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his blind followers deeply shocked. Although those blind followers were not going to gain anything, they were getting a golden chance to spread hatred, which the Supreme Court has now taken away. Through this bill, the biggest aim of Modi Ji and his government was to hand over Waqf land at throwaway prices to their capitalist friends including Adani. But with the stay on the bill, their aim has failed. BJP leaders anyway do politics on Hindu–Muslim issues. But the biggest loss has been to the Prime Minister’s friend Adani. Across the country, Waqf properties are in prime locations. The Prime Minister wanted to grab these lands and give them to his friends. That is why they are in shock.

Committee Ignored Warnings, Violated Religious Freedom

Sanjay Singh said that he himself was a member of the committee formed to debate the Waqf Amendment Bill. BJP’s Jagdambika Pal was the chairman. The committee had members from various opposition parties. We repeatedly told the government that it was wrong. Such a law cannot be made. Bringing a bill merely to get an issue to spread hatred in the country is wrong. The bill stated that only a person who had followed Muslim customs for five consecutive years could donate to Waqf. Imagine someone saying you can donate to a temple, gurdwara or church only if you have gone there continuously for five years—what kind of clause is that? Enormous powers had been given to the District Magistrate. Our freedom of religion comes from the Constitution written by Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Articles 25 and 26 clearly state that every person can manage their religious places according to their beliefs.

Supreme Court Restores Constitutional Balance

Sanjay Singh said that for those who were happy with the bill he had warned in Parliament that they should not be happy, because in coming days similar bills will come to grab land of Jain temples, churches, gurdwaras and temples. Meanwhile in Mumbai a 90-year-old Jain temple was demolished. I appeal to the people of the country to be cautious. Save yourselves from the BJP’s hateful agenda. BJP’s aim is to grab all religious land. Ayodhya is its latest example. They are capturing large tracts of land there. They have given 13,000 acres of Defence Ministry land to their friend Adani for business. These people are not doing religion, they are doing business. Sanjay Singh said Monday’s Supreme Court verdict on Waqf is in line with the rights given to people of different religions in the Constitution written by Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Supreme Court has stopped the cancellation of Waqf by user. Now the District Magistrate will not decide whether a property is Waqf or not. The CEO of the Central Waqf Board must be from the Muslim community. No more than three members of any other religion can be in a State Waqf Board. A maximum of four non-Muslim members can be in the Central Waqf Board. The Board’s majority must be from the Muslim community. The Supreme Court has also struck down the clause that only a person following Muslim customs for five years can donate to Waqf.

Opposition Was Right, Modi Govt Wasted Parliament’s Time

Sanjay Singh said this decision also makes it clear that the Modi government is wasting Parliament sessions on baseless issues. The government discussed an unconstitutional bill and wasted time. In the end the Supreme Court delivered a “supreme slap.” The opposition was right on this issue but the central government did not listen to it. Modi Ji is requested not to be blinded by his friendship. Stop the campaign to grab religious property and give it to your capitalist friends. Modi Ji has given 1,050 acres of green forest land to Adani for just one rupee. On paper the land is shown as barren. There are one lakh trees there. Sanjay Singh said from the beginning the Aam Aadmi Party’s stand has been that the Waqf Amendment Bill is completely unconstitutional and an attempt to destroy the secular framework in India. It is an attempt to grab religious property and give it to capitalist friends. Therefore the Aam Aadmi Party has opposed this bill from the start.