The BJP-led government is bent on destroying Waqf properties, says the lawmaker from Saharanpur
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Congress MP Imran Masood launched a scathing attack on the central government over the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing it of attempting to “destroy” Muslim-endowed properties while making a provocative demand: “Appoint me to the Ram Mandir Trust too—I am also a descendant of Lord Ram.”
The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha late on Wednesday. Introducing the bill, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged mismanagement of Waqf assets under previous Congress regimes. However, Masood, a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the bill, dismissed the amendments as a “land grab” disguised as reform.
Masood, MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, argued that Waqf properties—Islamic charitable endowments—were meant to support orphans, the poor, and the needy. “Our ancestors shed blood for this country, and they created these assets for social welfare. Now, the government is bent on destroying them,” he told a private news channel.
He claimed the bill removes legal safeguards, making disputes over Waqf lands indefinite and transferring control to the government. “They’ve made 78% of Uttar Pradesh’s Waqf properties ‘disputed’—once that happens, the ownership shifts to the Centre with no resolution timeline,” he alleged.
When questioned about opposition to non-Muslims being appointed to Waqf boards, Masood countered: “If that’s the logic, then appoint me in the Ram Mandir Trust. I am Ram’s descendant too—let someone prove I’m not!”
His remarks drew sharp reactions, but Masood refused to relent, warning NDA allies—RLD, JD-U, LJP (Ram Vilas), and TDP—that Muslim voters would “never forgive” them for backing the bill. “If Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, and Jayant Chaudhary want Muslim support, they must stand with us. This isn’t just a bill—it’s an attack on our heritage,” he said.
