Jamiat Chief claims 'BJP and his friends' try to help 'builders to get countries in prime places' with WAQF Act | Mint

Jamiat Ulema-Hind Chief, Mahmood Madani, on Sunday claimed that ‘BJP and his friends’ ‘builders and landowners help to get countries in prime places’ with the Waqf Act. The explosive allegations come as Agitations Rock West Bengal’s Murshidabad, where three people were killed and several police staff were injured. The WAQF Act (Amendment Act, 2025), has caused widespread criticism and protests across India, with prominent Muslim leaders and organizations that expose the legislation as politically motivated and detrimental to the autonomy of WAQF properties. The law, which received presidential consent on April 5, is aimed at reforming the management of WAQF properties, but has been accused of serving vested interests rather than addressing sincere concerns. Madani’s criticism of Waqf Act Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind chief Mahmood Madani strongly criticized the act and claimed to be designed to facilitate land grab under the guise of reform. Madani spoke at a press conference in Delhi, claiming that the narrative used to justify the amendment portrayed the previous WAQF directions falsely as untouchable entities. “It is not a matter of WAQF, but politics. In the name of Muslims, sometimes by abusing Muslims or by being the sympathizers of Muslims, this act is (implemented) with malicious intent,” Madani said. He claims that the narrative used to justify the amendment has falsely portrayed the previous WAQF Council as an unmarked powers and no oversight of the government. “BJP and his friends in the country and friends of the media said that the former WAQF board was of such a nature that it could do everything to form the WAQF board. The Muslim community had no role in government. People of their choice were made in government,” he said. Madani claims that the law is designed to help real estate developers and land grabs in acquiring Prime WAQF properties. “You are trying to help the builders and landowners so that they find the countries in prime places. They said earlier that it was oppression. This act or amendment is not right for the country, society or Muslims. You favor the occupiers,” he said. Madani argued that the new law undermined promises undermined by Muslims by India’s founding leaders and benefits of real estate developers by making Prime WAQF properties vulnerable to profession. Madani has called on peaceful protests across the country, with an emphasis on non-violence and patience in the struggle for justice. “We have called on the people to protest peacefully, protest everywhere. And we condemn any violence – it will only weaken our movement,” Madani said. “Our ancestors have decided that we will remain in this country. The founders of this country have made certain promises to us, and now these decisions are being trampled,” he said. MURSHIDABAD Violence over WAQF law violent protests broke out in the Murshidabad district in the Western Bengal over the WAQF (Amendment Act), 2025, which resulted in at least three deaths and numerous injuries. The unrest, which began on April 11, involved clashes between protesters and security forces, with reports of arson, vandalism and police fire in areas such as Suti, Samserganj and Dhuliyan. More than 150 people were arrested, and the central paramilitary forces were deployed to restore the order to an order of the Calcutta High Court. The violence led him to have a stricter action, while Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of Bengal, said that the law would not be implemented in Western Bengals. First Published: 13 Apr 2025, 08:16 pm ist