All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday addressed the Save Waqf Conference at Delhi’s Talkatora Stadium and took aim at the BJP over its remarks on the existence of Waqf properties in Muslim countries and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi can ask Saudi Arabia crown prince if Medina is built on Waqf land or not.
Speaking at the event, Owaisi referred to recent comments made by a BJP member in Parliament, suggesting that a particular Muslim country does not have Waqf institutions. Challenging that assertion, he pointed to Saudi Arabia and said, “Waqf exists in every Muslim country, be it a democracy or a kingdom”.
“Someone from the BJP said in the Parliament that this particular Muslim country does not have Waqf. When your plane entered the Saudi airspace, fighter planes from Saudi Arabia escorted your (PM Modi’s) plane and we welcome this gesture. But I want to tell PM Narendra Modi that during his visit to Saudi Arabia, he should ask the crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, if Medina is built on Waqf land. Waqf exists in every Muslim country, be it a democracy or a kingdom,” said the Hyderabad MP.
Later talking to the reporters, Owaisi defended the legitimacy of the Waqf Act, 2013, noting that it was passed unanimously by both Houses of Parliament. “In 2013 Waqf Bill was passed unanimously by both houses of Parliament… As per the theory of separation of powers, the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive are all independent. If the government misuses its powers or any article of the Constitution, the judiciary will intervene. Where else will we go?” said Owaisi.
Notably, today PM Modi has landed in Jeddah following his two-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is PM’s third visit to Saudi Arabia, and his first visit to Jeddah.
As a special gesture, PM Modi’s aircraft was escorted by F15’s of the Royal Saudi Air Force in Saudi Arabia’s airspace in Jeddah.
Earlier as well Owaisi has said that Waqf Act is “unconstitutional” and violates fundamental rights. Owaisi stated that he had carefully examined the interim order of the Supreme Court, as it involves 45 amendments to the law.
He noted that if the Union Government were to enact a law weakening Waqf, it would be against federalism. He further reiterated his stance that the law is intended to destroy Waqf property.