• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

All India United Democratic Front Chief Badruddin Ajmal and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi have stoked a row by claiming that Parliament may have been constructed on Waqf land. Ajmal said that the Parliament building and surrounding areas in Delhi, including Vasant Vihar and even the airport, have been built on Waqf property. 

“There are voices and a list of Waqf properties across the world is out - the Parliament building, surrounding areas, areas around Vasant Vihar up to the airport have been built on Waqf property. People also say that the airport has been built on Waqf property...It is bad, they will lose their Ministry very soon over this Waqf Board issue,” Ajmal was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI. 

Ajmal, who served as Member of Parliament for 15 years, expressed strong disapproval over the Waqf Bill and said that all parties have boycotted the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) formed to review the bill. 

The AIUDF chief also highlighted strong public disapproval over the bill, claiming that five crore people have sent messages to the JPC, urging them to reject the bill. He also said that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind will undertake a survey of Waqf Board lands in Assam as part of their efforts to oppose the contentious bill. 

Ajmal’s remarks were backed by Samajwadi Party leader Abu Ajmi who stated that MPs should pay rent for residing on bungalows built on Waqf land. He also called for an investigation into the matter. “It is our ancestors' property. If the land belongs to Waqf and there are evidences, then anyone using it should pay rent to Waqf. That's what we are saying," Ajmi said. 

BJP Reacts

Ajmal’s remarks did not go down well with the BJP as party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala accused him of trying to spread baseless rumours. "Tomorrow, they can claim your house too. They can claim my house as well. All these people are professional land grabbers," Poonawala said. 

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, "Badruddin Ajmal is doing the politics of appeasement because his entire vote bank voted for Congress in this Lok Sabha election and he lost the polls. But I would like to tell these leaders - do not insult the Constitution of the country while indulging in your appeasement politics."

Also In News