Milind Deora slams Uddhav Thackeray over his MPs absence during Waqf (Amendment) Bill discussion

Aug 08, 2024

New Delhi [India], August 8 : Shiv Sena MP, Milind Deora, on Thursday, targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and said that their hypocrisy was exposed when Uddhav's MPs were absent during the discussion on the Waqf Board Bill in the Parliament.
Deora added that Muslims voted for Uddhav Thackeray's party but in return, have received silence.
"Today in Parliament, the real face of Uddhav Thackeray's UBT representatives and their hypocrisy was exposed when all UBT representatives were absent during the discussion on the Waqf Board Bill. Muslims voted for you, but why is there silence in return? Muslims will definitely seek the answer to this question from the MPs of UBT," he said on X.
Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde defended the bill in the House and said that it will bring about transparency and accountability.
Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde said, "This Waqf Bill is in the true sense, for the betterment of the minority Muslim community... There has been no prior amendment to the Waqf Bill... Even today, the opposition is against it because they do not want Muslim women to get representation. No one can name any Waqf property that has been put to good use like schools, colleges, or hospitals. This bill will bring about transparency and accountability..."
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which amends the Waqf Act, of 1995, was introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
The bill seeks to "effectively address issues" related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments.
The bill seeks to omit section 40 relating to the powers of the Board to decide if a property is waqf property, provide for filing of accounts of waqf by mutawallis to the Board through a central portal for better control over their activities, reform the Tribunal structure with two members and provide for appeals against the orders of the Tribunal to the High Court within a specified period of ninety days.
The members of the opposition parties made an all-out attack on the Centre as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha.