Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a public rally in Hisar, Haryana, on Monday, said that the Centre’s decision to reform waqf property management was triggered by letters from hundreds of Muslim widows who raised concerns over misuse of waqf assets.
The Prime Minister said that poor Muslims, especially youth, had suffered for decades due to the mismanagement of waqf properties, forcing many to struggle for livelihood doing small jobs like repairing bicycle punctures.
Muslim Widows’ Appeal Led To Waqf Law Reform
PM Modi said, “It was only after hundreds of widowed Muslim women wrote to the Government of India that the issue of waqf property misuse was seriously discussed, and eventually the law was changed.”
His remarks come days after the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, came into effect. The new law aims to bring transparency and curb irregularities in waqf property management across India.
Misuse Of Waqf Properties Benefited Land Mafia: PM Modi
The Prime Minister accused previous governments of allowing land mafias to benefit from waqf properties while poor Muslims were deprived.
“Had the waqf assets been used properly, young Muslim men wouldn’t have been forced to live their lives repairing bicycle punctures,” PM Modi said.
New Waqf Law Will Protect Poor And Pasmanda Muslims
PM Modi assured that under the new law, land or property belonging to Adivasis (tribal communities) cannot be taken over by the Waqf Board. He emphasised that poor Muslims, especially Pasmanda Muslims, would now benefit from this legislation.
Attack On Congress Over Vote Bank Politics
The Prime Minister took a sharp dig at the Congress party, accusing it of using Muslims only for vote bank politics.
“If Congress really cares for Muslims, why hasn’t it appointed a Muslim party president?” PM Modi questioned at the rally.
He further accused the Congress of disrespecting Dr BR Ambedkar and of being a “destroyer of the Constitution.”
Highlighting BJP’s Initiatives For Muslim Women
PM Modi also recalled the BJP government’s 2019 move to ban the practice of instant triple talaq, calling it a step towards empowering Muslim women.
“The BJP government has ended the evil practice of triple talaq, protecting the interests of crores of Muslim sisters,” he said.
Context Of The Remarks
These remarks come as West Bengal witnesses violent protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, with clashes and deployment of central forces in some areas.
PM Modi’s statement also highlights how complaints over waqf land misuse were coming not just from non-Muslims, but from within the Muslim community, particularly poor and marginalized sections.
