Sun Apr 06 16:48:31 UTC 2025: **Opposition Parties Condemn Waqf Amendment Act, Accuse BJP of Targeting Religious Land**
MUMBAI, April 6, 2025 – The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, has sparked widespread condemnation from opposition parties and religious organizations, who accuse the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting the land holdings of various religious communities.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray voiced strong concerns, alleging the BJP intends to seize land belonging to Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and even Hindu temples, ostensibly to benefit industrialists close to the government. He criticized the BJP’s celebration of its 45th foundation day on Ram Navami, urging them to emulate Lord Ram’s principles.
Congress State president Harshvardhan Sapkal echoed these concerns, linking the act to rising inflation, school closures, and unemployment. He claimed the BJP aims to exploit the act to seize land, even suggesting the Padmanabhaswamy Temple’s gold reserves are a target.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Jitendra Awhad, citing an article in the RSS mouthpiece *Organiser*, warned that Christians would be targeted after Muslims. The *Organiser* article highlighted the Catholic Church’s substantial land holdings, acquired largely during British rule, arguing it surpasses that of the Waqf Board.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam demanded a detailed report on the status of Waqf properties in Maharashtra, questioning who controls them. He accused the Congress of using the Muslim community as a vote bank and neglecting the issue.
The controversy surrounding the Waqf Amendment Act continues to escalate, with opposition parties uniting against what they perceive as a politically motivated land grab.
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