Centre wants to set 'Hindu-Muslim' narrative via Waqf amendments, says Shiv Sena (UBT) MP

Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant claimed that the Centres intentions to amend the Waqf Act are not good and it wants to set a HinduMuslim narrative in the country through it PTI reportedAs per PTI in an interview Sawant who was a member of the Joint Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill also accused the parliamentary panel chief BJP MP Jagdambika Pal of adopting deceptive practices and not holding a clausebyclause discussion on the proposed law as mentioned in its agendaHe further labelled the functioning of the panel as dictatorialThe bill aims to simplify the registration process for Waqf properties and prevent their misuse It is expected to be presented in Parliament during the second part of the Budget Session which will take place from March 10 to April 4In January the 10 opposition members on the 31member panel were suspended after a ruckus over the scheduling of the clausebyclause discussion of the bill Sawant alleged that this incident demonstrated the dictatorial approach of the panels chairman who he claimed was being directed by BJP leaders to control the committees proceedings PTI reportedThe intentions of the government are not good They want to set a narrative in this country and they are doing it consistently and making a fool of the people the former Union minister claimedThe government is trying to set a HinduMuslim narrative and that it is here to protect the Hindus You protect the interests of Hindus We too are doing that To protect the interest of Hindus does not mean one has to create hatred towards other people Sawant said PTI citedThe Waqf bill is set to come up in Parliament during the second half of the Budget Session following the Union Cabinetrsquos approval of the amendments proposed by the joint committeeDuring its meeting on February 19 the Cabinet reportedly approved 14 amendments proposed by the committee which had tabled its report in Parliament on February 13 amid opposition uproar and a walkoutSawant stated that the opposition would strongly oppose the bill when it is introduced in Parliament adding that the committee had disregarded concerns raised by opposition membersIt wanted the dissent note given by the opposition to be part of the report Nobody knows if it is a part of the whole thing or not the Sena UBT leader said PTI reportedThe MP also claimed that the panel invited stakeholders some of whom were affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS and its affiliate Vanvasi AshramThey were invited as stakeholders just to oppose the fact that they the Waqf board have hectares of land belonging to them These are illusions created by the BJP Sawant allegedHe also expressed concerns about the governments push for a Uniform Civil Code claiming that the proposal to have two nonMuslims on the Waqf board along with additional officers would lead to nonMuslims dominating the board given that elections will no longer be held PTI reportedEarlier the board used to conduct elections and people from the Muslim community got representation on the Waqf board Now the government has decided not to conduct elections and it will nominate members to the board Sawant saidIt may happen that majority of the members could be nonMuslims Are you giving justice to minorities Justice is justice either for minority or majority Sawant saidI have sheer apprehensions in my mind over what will happen to my Hindu temples he added PTI citedAccording to PTI the MP voiced apprehension about the future of Hindu temples pointing to the existing Hindu Endowment Act which ensures that only Hindus can sit on the managing committees of temples like those in Pandharpur and VaranasiWhen you talk about a common civil code they Muslim community will say what is in the Waqf bill should also be applicable to Hindu temples We will not tolerate that We do not want anyone other than Hindus on temples managing committees Sawant saidAs per the existing provisions the survey commissioner is to conduct a survey in case of a dispute he said PTI citedThey have replaced the survey commissioner with the district collector But the collector represents the revenue department the land belongs to the revenue department Sawant saidSo the complainant as well as the judge under the proposed provisions is the government he addedThe 655page report from the joint committee was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30The report which included changes suggested by BJP members was adopted by a majority vote of 1511 prompting the opposition to accuse the government of attempting to destroy the Waqf boardsThe bill was referred to the joint committee of Parliament on August 8 last year following its introduction in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju PTI reportedWith inputs from PTI