Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking on the resolution moved in the Assembly against The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 brought by the Centre, appealed to the BJP to forget political differences and withdraw the law that would, according to her, oppress a religious community.
Urging Speaker Biman Banerjee to consider her remarks as an extension of her statement last Friday, Mamata in her 45-minute speech repeatedly appealed to the BJP to set aside political differences and work for the betterment of society.
“This resolution is not to intimidate anyone. We appeal to withdraw a bill that would deny justice to people of one particular religion. As we want the oppression in Bangladesh to stop, let persecution of a religious community in our country also come to an end,” she said.
“The Muslims are opposing it (the bill) because it is a question of their religion... and property,” she added.
Mamata was referring to an amendment that gives the collector the power to determine if a property is government or waqf property.
The bill proposed to amend 44 Sections of the Waqf Act, 1995, proposing to curb the authority of waqf boards, allow non-Muslims to be members of waqf boards, restrict donation of properties, allow greater government control and change how waqf tribunals function.
The bill is under scrutiny of a Joint Parliamentary Committee with TMC representation. The JPC held many meetings but failed to reach a conclusion, after which the Centre extended its tenure till the end of the Budget session.
The Assembly resolution introduced by minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay flayed the Centre for changing the composition of the Central Waqf Council and state waqf boards to curb Muslim representation, calling it a threat to the fundamental rights of one particular religious community.
"Why is a single religion being targeted...? Why are you (the Centre) so hostile toward minorities? Why are you humiliating a particular religion?" Mamata asked.