BJP to launch Waqf awareness campaign in Uttarakhand on April 20 – myuttarakhandnews.com | Uttarakhand News in English | Dehradun News Today| News Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand latest news

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party will launch a Waqf awareness campaign across Uttarakhand from April 20 to May 5 with the message “rights of the poor only for the poor”. He stated that the government will ensure that Waqf properties are used for the welfare of poor, backward Muslims and women. He said that every inch of Waqf land in the State will be surveyed and protected without interfering with religious matters. Speaking at a workshop held at the state BJP headquarters on Friday, Dhami said that the Waqf law amendment is part of broader national reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He linked the move to other policy decisions like the abrogation of Article 370, the implementation of CAA, the construction of the Ram temple and the law against Triple Talaq. He said the amendment is aimed at securing the rights of the underprivileged and stopping the misuse of Waqf assets. He said that the State has around 5,700 Waqf properties and the government will create a verified database of these assets. He warned that illegal encroachments will face strict action under the rule of law. He also said the law will benefit poor Muslims, divorced and widowed women, orphaned children and other needy individuals. He questioned why, despite significant property under Waqf control, poor people were not helped in the past. He said BJP workers must spread awareness about the law to counter misinformation by the opposition. He also reiterated that religious freedom will not be affected and that the focus is on ensuring the legal use of public property. The BJP National general secretary and State in-charge Dushyant Gautam said that land recovered from illegal possession will be used to build housing for poor Muslims, especially women. He added that such properties will also be used to develop hospitals, schools, and community centres. He stated that the amendment corrects past legal mistakes and that the party will not support actions taken in the name of appeasement. A campaign outline was presented in the workshop for the next two weeks. Gautam said that the party workers must reach all affected sections with accurate information about the law. Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams described past misuse of powers by the board and land encroachments involving both government and private property. He said many affected individuals were from minority communities themselves and the main opposition to the amendment comes from those with vested interests in maintaining control over these assets.