‘Appoint a Muslim as Congress Chief if…’: PM Modi Slams Party Over Waqf Act Debate

‘Appoint a Muslim as Congress Chief if…’: The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, severely condemned the Congress on Monday for amending the Waqf law in 2013, alleging that the only reason behind the act was to please others and win elections. While addressing a gathering in Haryana, he said that the Congress party, under the leadership of another Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, should appoint a chief if it felt any sympathy for the largest minority community in the country- Muslims.

While addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a new terminal building AT Hisar's Maharaja Agrasen Airport and flagging off a commercial flight to Ayodhya, PM Modi remarked that the Congress had always bent over backward to please a particular section of Muslim fundamentalists.

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"From Independence till 2013, there was a Waqf law. But to win elections, and in pursuing a politics of appeasement and vote bank, the Congress made amendments in the Waqf law hurriedly late in 2013 so that it can get votes in elections (few months later in 2014)," said Modi.

"If they (Congress) have some sympathy for Muslims, they should appoint their president from the Muslim community. Why don't they do it?" he asked.

He also asked the Congress to give 50 percent election tickets to Muslims. "After they win, they will put forth their views," said Modi.

He said the real truth of the Congress is that it cared less about the welfare of the community, be it any-Mongols.

PM Modi said Waqf boards owned thousands of hectares of land in the country that could have been utilized for the benefit of the poor, destitute women, and children. "Had it been honestly utilised, Muslim youths would not have had to spend their lives by fixing puncture tyres," he added.

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PM Modi said Waqf benefited only a few land mafia.

"It benefited only a handful of the land mafia. There was no gain to Pasmanda Muslims. This land mafia was looting the land of Dalits, the downtrodden, 'adivasis,' and widows. Hundreds of widowed women wrote to the Centre, and then a debate on this law took place," said Modi.

Meanwhile, during a press conference in the national capital, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted how Hindu organizations opposed BR Ambedkar for embracing Buddhism.

"These people were enemies of Babasaheb then and even now. Even when he was alive, they did not support him. When Baba Saheb adopted Buddhism, do you know what these people said? They said that he is from the Mahar community, an untouchable. They also said that Buddha has now been made untouchable. Baba Saheb's political party was the Republican Party, and Hindu Mahasabha was against him," Kharge said.

The remarks by Congress presidents came after PM Modi leveled accusations against Congress for destroying the Constitution and insulting Ambedkar.

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