By TC News Desk
Agartala, 17th April 2025: Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Wednesday asserted that the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, has been introduced to curb the alleged misuse of Waqf properties by vested interests and to bring transparency into the system.
Speaking at the Janajagaran Abhiyan held at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala, Dr. Saha said that the amended Act aims to address corruption, illegal land occupation, and widespread irregularities in the management of Waqf assets, which have long affected poor and backward sections of the Muslim community.
“The loopholes in the Waqf Act of 1995 had a disproportionate impact on the underprivileged Muslim population. This amendment is meant to fix that,” he said.
Dr. Saha came down heavily on the Congress and CPIM, accusing them of spreading misinformation and creating confusion around the newly passed law.
“Many people are unaware of what Waqf is. When the amendment bill came, we read and understood it. But Congress and CPIM are deliberately misleading people. This is nothing new—they opposed PM Modi when Triple Talaq was abolished. PM Modi works for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and I want to assure our minority Muslim brothers and sisters that every initiative taken by him is meant for everyone’s welfare,” he added.
Tracing the history of Waqf regulation, Dr. Saha noted that the Waqf Board was first introduced by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1954, followed by the 1995 Act. However, he pointed out that powers granted to the Board in 2013 led to large-scale irregularities.
“Some self-styled leaders began illegally occupying land under the guise of Waqf. Crores of rupees came in, but there were no visible social or developmental initiatives. The lack of transparency was shocking. That’s why this bill was brought in—to end corruption and bring accountability,” Dr. Saha said.
He cited alarming figures, stating that pending cases related to Waqf properties jumped from 10,381 in 2013 to 21,618 in recent years. As of September 2024, a total of 5,973 government properties across 25 states and Union Territories were declared as Waqf assets—raising serious questions about misuse.
“Can you imagine how government properties can suddenly become Waqf? Some people are exploiting this for personal gain and trying to incite unrest. I’ve instructed the police to take strict action against anyone attempting to disturb peace under the pretext of Waqf,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the amendment not only ensures transparency and digitization of records but also focuses on empowering Muslim women, establishing legal aid centers for family and inheritance disputes, and promoting interfaith harmony and cultural preservation.
“This is about uplifting the community, especially women. There will be no compromise on transparency,” he reiterated.
The event also saw the presence of Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb, BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, BJP General Secretary Amit Rakshit, and BJP Minority Morcha President Billal Mia.
