Bilaspur/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said young Muslims wouldn't need to repair bicycle punctures if the Waqf properties were used honestly, triggering sharp responses from the Opposition.

Modi made the remark over the new controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act while inaugurating the Hisar Airport in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur.

In his trademark style, Modi, who was wearing a turban on his head, said, "Lakhs of hectares of land exist in the country in the name of Waqf. Helpless women and children must have been benefited from these lands. If Waqf properties were used with honesty, Muslim youths wouldn't need to earn livelihood by repairing bicycle punctures.

"But only a few handful land mafias have benefitted from it... These land mafias have been looting lands that belong to Dalits, backward sections, Adivasis, widows. This law has come into place after hundreds of Muslim widows wrote letters to the Government of India. The Waqf Act will stop the looting from the poors."

Opposition slams Modi

Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi said, "The Prime Minister sometimes forgets the dignity of his post. He uses words like 'repairing punctures' which are common in social media trolls. What kind of a language is this? It's not gracious of him."

"Moreover, the Prime Minister has created a situation where the country's youth has no other option but to repair puncture or sell pakodas for livelihood."

Slamming the Prime Minister, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi posted on X, "Modi said that if the Waqf properties were used properly, Muslim youth would not have to repair punctures. If the thinking and property of the Sangh Parivar were used in the interest of the country, Modi would not have to sell tea.

"What has Modi done for poor Indians – Hindus or Muslims – in the last 11 years? 33% Indians are living without jobs and education. One of the major reasons for what has happened with Waqf properties is that the law and administration of Waqf was always kept weak. Modi's Waqf amendment will weaken it even more."

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose says, "Wrong, discriminatory & deeply prejudiced on so many levels. 1) Repairing punctured tyres is dignity of labour and an essential service. 2) No, not all Muslims are repairing tyres, many through sheer dint of hard work are today doctors, academics and leaders of industry 3) “Puncture-wallahs” is a particularly odious Sanghi term which the prime minister should have avoided. Uncouth and disgraceful from @narendramodi."