Mumbai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday boldly asserted that the Narendra Modi government will amend the Waqf Board law “come what may (danke ki chot par)” and after that no one would be able to declare private land as Waqf property.

Shah said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is against the changes, but the bill to amend the law regarding the Waqf board will soon be passed in the Parliament.

Home Minister On Waqf

Speaking at the rally in Ghatkopar on Tuesday, the Union Minister said that in Congress-ruled Karnataka, entire villages had been declared as Waqf property.

“The Waqf Board of Karnataka has transferred lands of farmers, villages and old temples to Waqf property, and no one can stop them. It won’t be possible here, because Modi ji has proposed the changes in the law of the Waqf Board. The Aghadi is against the changes, but the bill to amend the law regarding the Waqf board will soon be passed in the Parliament,” Shah said.

“Narendra Modi sarkar waqf kanoon danke ki chot par badal ne wali hai (Come what may Narendra Modi government is going to amend the Waqf act) and then no one’s land or house would be declared as Waqf property. This is a free India, and no one has the permission to do this,” he added.

What Is The Waqf Act Of 1995?

The Waqf Act 1995, was originally established to regulate Waqf properties, but it has long faced criticism over issues of mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha this August, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

Amit Shah in his rally further talked about a petition submitted by a large group of ulemas to the Congress State President in Maharashtra, demanding 10 per cent reservation for Muslims. He said the Indian Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion.

“Just now, a large group of ulemas met the Congress State President in Maharashtra and submitted a petition demanding 10 per cent reservation for Muslims. In this country, 50 per cent of reservations have already been allocated, and if you (Congress) want to provide reservation to Muslims, then someone’s reservation will have to be reduced. Our Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion…let Rahul Baba and his company do what they can, but we will protect the reservation rights of OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis,” Shah said in his speech.

“A few days ago, I presented the BJP’s manifesto before the people of the state, and on the same day, Kharge ji presented the Maha Aghadi’s manifesto to the public. Furthermore, Kharge ji told the Maharashtra Congress to make promises that can be fulfilled, not promises that can’t be kept,” Shah added.

Campaigning has intensified for the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra with both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) making efforts to woo the electorate.

The polls are scheduled for November 20 and counting will be held on November 23.

In the Maharashtra Assembly election, the checking of bags of top politicians has become a major issue. After former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray raised the issue of his bag being checked for the second time in two days, the social media handle of BJP’s Maharashtra unit released a video of airport security frisking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ bags and took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray.

In an indirect attack on Uddhav Thackeray, the BJP said, ‘Some leaders have the habit of creating spectacles!’

The BJP, in an X post, said that Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis’ bag was checked on November 7 in Yavatmal district.

‘But he neither made any video nor raised any uproar. Earlier, on November 5, at Kolhapur Airport, Devendraji Fadnavis’s bags were also inspected. (Here’s the video from November 5),’ it added.

‘Just holding the Constitution for show isn’t enough; one must also follow constitutional systems. We simply request that everyone should have respect for the Constitution,’ the BJP further said.

A video that went viral on social media yesterday shows former CM Thackeray questioning an officer during a bag check in Yavatmal. “I won’t stop you… you’re doing your duty. I’m doing mine. Search… search whatever you need to. But did you check the bags of Devendra Fadnavis, Narendra Modi, or Amit Shah?” Thackeray is heard saying.

When the officer mentioned that the BJP leaders had not yet campaigned in the region, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief requested that he check their bags whenever they visit and send him a video as proof.

Amid bag frisking row, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s helicopter was inspected by election officials on Tuesday upon his arrival in Latur, Maharashtra, for a campaign event. This followed similar checks of Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray’s bags earlier in Yavatmal and again in Latur. The repeated inspections of Thackeray’s bags within two days have sparked controversy, with Thackeray and his allies alleging unfair treatment by election authorities amid the ongoing enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Mumbai: With Maharashtra’s Assembly elections around the corner, Shivaji Park at Dadar has become a flashpoint in the race for political dominance.

Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, known for its historic rallies at this iconic ground, has been left high and dry with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena securing the turf for their November 17 rally.

MNS, which had applied days before Shiv Sena, secured permission on a “first come, first served” basis, marking a symbolic victory for the party. The date holds emotional weight: it is the death anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, Uddhav’s father and Shiv Sena’s founder, who historically gathered Shiv Sainiks on the ground.