"We oppose Waqf Board Amendment Bill," says Congress MLA Arif Masood

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], August 8 : Congress MLA from Bhopal Arif Masood on Thursday opposed the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, 2024, saying that Waqf properties are private properties and do not belong to any individual.
"We oppose this amendment bill. The opposition is not political but it is to be understood that these Waqf properties are private properties of the Waqf board. These properties do not belong to any person and the government wants to privatise it, this is the only objective of the government," Masood told ANI.
Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the Waqf Act, 1995.
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 Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in the lower house.
Earlier, Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM strongly opposed the introduction of the bill, saying its provisions were against federalism and the constitutional provisions. While some members demanded the withdrawal of the bill, many suggested that it should be sent to a standing committee.
Additionally, when asked about the unrest and violence happening in Bangladesh, the Congress leader said that it was wrong and it should not happen there.
"What is happening in Bangladesh should not happen. Those who are doing violence are absolutely wrong. We always want and have been trying to ensure peace across the world in the same way as there is peace in India," Masood said.
Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests on August 5.
The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.
Extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, which has been banned from contesting polls in the country, are being accused of committing severe acts of violence, while police are absent from the streets and the army is not enforcing the curfew.
With the police absent from the streets, the army not enforcing the curfew, and the administration seemingly paralyzed, extremist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami have been reportedly committing severe acts of violence.
A day after Sheikh Hasina resigned as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been appointed as the head of Bangladesh's interim government, the report said. Bangladesh President's Press Secretary, Joynal Abedin, made the announcement.
In a statement issued by the Yunus Centre, the Nobel peace laureate said, "I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. I appeal to all students, members of all political parties and non-political people to stay calm. This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities. We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and for our future generations."
Members of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus will take oath on Thursday night, the Daily Star reported. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has indicated that the interim government may have 15 members for now. The names of the members of the interim government have not been disclosed.