BJP Leader Shehzad Poonawalla Reacts to Kerala Catholic Bishops' Support for Waqf Amendment Bill

  • March 31, 2025, 4:30 p.m.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla has praised the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) for its strong support of the Waqf Amendment Bill, interpreting it as a clear message against efforts to politicize the issue. In a statement, Poonawalla asserted that the KCBC's backing of the Bill is a direct response to those, whom he referred to as the "Bhadkaau Bhaijaan Committee," who attempt to use Waqf properties to polarize communities and mislead the Muslim population.

"The support of KCBC on the Waqf Amendment Bill is coming as a strong response to those 'Bhadkaau Bhaijaan' Committee members who are trying to use the Waqf in order to polarise insight and in order to mislead the Muslim community," Poonawalla remarked. He further clarified that the issue at hand was never about a minority versus majority conflict, but rather a matter of land grabbing and mismanagement of Waqf properties.

Poonawalla went on to argue that the Bill addresses the abuse of power granted to Waqf institutions, which he claimed had led to illegal land grabbing, including land belonging to the Christian community. "The unlimited powers given to Waqf have led to land grabbing even of the Christian community," he stated, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.

The BJP leader emphasized that the current debate surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill is not a religious dispute, but one between "land grabbers and poor Muslims." He also made it clear that efforts to frame the matter as a Hindu versus Muslim or majority versus minority issue had been strongly countered by the KCBC. "Today, this is an issue between land grabbers and poor Muslims, but those who are turning it into Hindu versus Muslim or majority versus minority have got a tight slap from KCBC," Poonawalla said, defending the position taken by the Catholic body.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council's endorsement of the Waqf Amendment Bill has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing debate, with the church’s support seen as an important sign of solidarity in the effort to reform the management of Waqf properties. Poonawalla’s comments underscore the BJP’s stance on the issue, positioning the Bill as a crucial step toward addressing corruption and misuse of land under the Waqf system.

As the discussion continues, the Waqf Amendment Bill remains a key point of contention, with political leaders from various parties weighing in on its potential impact on both religious and social dynamics in India.

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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