Amit Shah visited Jharkhand on Tuesday. At this rally, He criticized the Wakf Board over land that temples, villagers, and others were accused of owning. He mentioned that it is now time for a change in the Wakf Board and its related Act. He stated that the BJP must pass the Waqf Board Bill and nobody can prevent you from accomplishing it.
Significantly greater unrest is observed outside the parliamentary panel established for the Wakf Board Amendment Bill compared to within it, and the BJP appears to be securing an advantage in the ongoing controversy. The disputes are reinforcing the BJP’s assertion that the Wakf Board has excessive authority over the land it manages. This is also assisting the BJP in appealing to other communities.
The BJP is gaining from the conflict in opposition-led Kerala and Karnataka. In this instance, the effort to evict the settlers from the areas that the Waqf Board claimed was unsuccessful. The governing LDF in Kerala and the Congress administration in Karnataka are under scrutiny concerning these issues. The BJP is consistently exerting pressure regarding this matter.
Jagadambika Pal, the chairman of the parliamentary party committee created for the Waqf Bill, handled the task of advancing these issues. Following the request of BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, he went to the location that is under dispute.
In Karnataka, allegations have been made against the Wakf Board for asserting ownership over ASI-protected sites, such as temples, according to The Indian Express. In Kerala, the church has become involved, as the Wakf asserts ownership of more than 400 acres of land in the Ernakulam district. The majority of the more than 600 families that have established themselves here are Christians.
The prominent Syro Malabar Church in Kerala is coordinating demonstrations in thousands of churches in opposition to the Wakf claim. Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese has called for the prompt action of both the Central and State governments on this issue.
Given that the Christian community in Maharashtra has a population nearly comparable to that of Muslims, the BJP is making significant efforts to establish its presence in the state through this. The competition for power between the two minority groups in the state suggests that this approach might be beneficial for the BJP.
Leaders of the BJP in Kerala and Karnataka are leading the charge in highlighting Waqf-related issues. Party sources indicate that similar cases involving Waqf may arise in other states in the near future. Each controversy of this kind contributes to fostering a climate that highlights the necessity for the Waqf Bill.