Hardeep Singh Puri Backs Waqf Amendment Bill, Cites CBCI’s Support as a Step Toward Transparency

Union Minister says bill serves national and minority interests, calls on citizens to unite under PM Modi’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ vision

New Delhi, April 1:
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has lent strong support to the Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it a reform in the national interest and one that benefits the Muslim community. His endorsement comes shortly after the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) urged political parties to support the bill, particularly in light of ongoing land disputes such as the one in Munambam, Kerala.

Taking to social media platform X, Puri stated,

“Waqf Amendment Bill is in the national interest and in the interest of Muslims. This will bring transparency in the management of Waqf properties. Those who have illegally occupied Waqf land are now opposing this bill and misleading the public.”

He further applauded the CBCI’s appeal as an encouraging and unifying stance, saying,

“The Catholic Bishops Council of India’s appeal to all political parties to support the #WaqfAmendmentBill gives strength to this bill. It will help eliminate anomalies like the dispute in Munambam.”

Puri concluded his statement with a call for unity, urging citizens to back Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’

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The CBCI, in its official statement, said the existing Central Waqf Act contains constitutional inconsistencies, which have been used by the Kerala Waqf Board to declare ancestral properties of over 600 families in Munambam as Waqf land. The group asserted that the matter, which has escalated into a complex legal conflict over the past three years, requires a legal amendment for a permanent solution.

“Any provisions or laws that contradict the principles of the Indian Constitution must be amended. At the same time, the rights of religious minorities, as guaranteed by the Constitution, must be safeguarded,” the CBCI added.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also amplified the CBCI’s letter on social media, stating,

“It is the duty of those in politics to care for and address problems and challenges faced by our people. For example, hundreds of families in Munambam, Kerala and countless people across India have suffered and continue to seek a solution to protect their properties and homes.”

The Waqf Amendment Bill, if passed, aims to introduce greater oversight, fairness, and legal clarity in the management of Waqf properties across the country, especially in cases where private property has been contested under religious land claims.