Bengaluru: BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra expressed his happiness over the Lok Sabha’s approval of a historic bill yesterday.
As part of its protest against the Congress government’s price hike policies, the BJP continued its overnight dharna at Freedom Park in Bengaluru today. Vijayendra criticized the Congress for opposing the Wakf Amendment Bill both at the state and national levels, calling it a tragedy. He accused Congress leaders and politicians of looting land worth thousands of crores in Karnataka under the guise of the Wakf Board. “These very Congress leaders are now opposing the Wakf Amendment Bill,” he said.
He further stated that discussions on the Wakf Act had been ongoing for several decades across the country and in the state. “In our state, lands belonging to temples, religious institutions with a history of over a thousand years, and even lakhs of acres of farmland owned by farmers have been forcefully taken under the name of the Wakf Board,” he alleged.
A few months ago, the BJP had protested against this issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set up a parliamentary subcommittee at the Centre to address the injustices and fraud committed under the name of the Wakf Board, Vijayendra explained.
He announced that the Lok Sabha had granted approval to the Wakf Amendment Bill at midnight yesterday, calling it a historic moment. “This is an occasion for everyone to celebrate,” he said. He also mentioned that not only Hindus but even Muslims have welcomed this decision. To mark the occasion, sweets were distributed among the protestors at the dharna.
