Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government in the Lok Sabha over the Waqf Amendment Bill and said the ruling saffron outfit does not have the right policies and intentions on the issue.

He said the bill has been made to hide the failures of the current regime.

"Whenever the BJP introduces a new bill, they are hiding their failure," Yadav was quoted as saying by UNI news agency in the Lok Sabha.

Akhilesh Targets BJP Over Party President Election

Akhilesh Yadav targeted the ruling party over the issue of party president election and was quoted as saying by the media: "A party that claims to be the biggest political party in the world has still not been able to elect its own national president."

Amit Shah Counters Him

Union Home Minister Amit Shah countered him by saying, "Parties like yours pick up a president from just five members."

"You (Akhilesh Yadav) will remain the party president for 25 years," he said, slamming Yadav, referring to dynastic politics.

Kiren Rijiju

Earlier in the day, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said several important public properties including the Parliament building would have been taken over by the Waqf board had the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government continued its rule.

Rijiju said it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which came in 2014, that actually saved the Parliament building takeover by the Waqf board.

The minister made the remark tabling the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha where the Modi government needs the mandatory support of the allies for the passage of any bill.

Rijiju, who is also the Minority Affairs Minister, says, "A case has been going on since 1970 in Delhi. Delhi Waqf board had claimed several properties including CGO Complex, Parliament building. While the matter was subjudice, the then UPA government had handed over the entire land to the Waqf board by notifying."

"If we hadn't brought an amendment bill, 123 properties including this Parliament building would have been claimed by the Waqf board. We have no idea how many properties would have been notified if the Narendra Modi government had not come and UPA continued its rule," he added.

When the Congress protested against the minister's remarks, Rijiju said, "I am speaking on the basis of an official record. This is the reality."

"I believe that those who oppose this bill will also have a change in their hearts. Everyone will support this bill with a positive attitude," he added.

All political parties irrespective of ruling and opposition camps have issued a whip to be present in the House.

Rijiju said the Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee comprising representatives from all major political parties agreed on an eight-hour debate.

The committee, which is chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, has agreed that the duration of the debate can be extended as per the sense of the House.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is short of majority in the Lok Sabha, is backed by its crucial allies, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

Waqf Amendment Bill 2024

On August 8, 2024, two bills, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, were introduced in the Lok Sabha with an aim to streamline the Waqf Board's work and ensure the efficient management of Waqf properties.

The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.

The Amendment Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards by introducing changes such as renaming the Act, updating the definitions of waqf, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records.

The primary objective of the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 is to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, a colonial-era legislation that has become outdated and inadequate for managing waqf properties in modern India.

The repeal aims to ensure uniformity, transparency, and accountability in the administration and management of waqf properties under the Waqf Act, 1995, thus eliminating inconsistencies and ambiguities caused by the continued existence of this redundant law.