AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer Strongly Opposes Waqf Bill in Parliament
Chandigarh/New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP from Sangrur, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, fiercely opposed the Waqf Bill in Parliament, calling it an attempt by the BJP-led government to seize Waqf properties and undermine minority religious institutions.
Meet Hayer argued that the bill opens the door for encroachment on the religious rights of minorities. "Today, Waqf properties are under attack. Tomorrow, Sikh, Buddhist, and other minority religious institutions could face the same threat. This is a direct violation of Article 14 of the Constitution," he said. He also questioned how the law would determine an individual's private religious practices.
Slamming the BJP, he accused the party of fostering division through its policies. "The government's stance towards Muslims over the past 11 years is clear. While the Home Minister claims they care about Muslims, the BJP does not have a single Muslim MP in the Lok Sabha, nor a Muslim MLA in Uttar Pradesh," he pointed out.
Meet Hayer also challenged the government's justification of the bill using the Sachar Committee report. He highlighted that the report states 70% of Waqf Board properties in India are illegally occupied, with 355 under government control. "What has the government done to reclaim these properties?" he questioned. He also raised concerns about historical mosques, educational institutions, and heritage buildings, questioning how they would produce centuries-old ownership documents.
Citing the communal harmony in Malerkotla, a city in his constituency, Meet Hayer urged the government to stop dividing people based on religion. He reaffirmed his commitment to opposing the bill, stating that it goes against his promises to the people of Malerkotla.
He further described the bill as an attack on the Indian Constitution. "Article 26 grants religious communities the right to establish and manage their institutions. Today, that fundamental right is under threat," he asserted.