BJP ST Morcha to run awareness campaign on Waqf Act from April 20 to Mar 5

Bhopal: The state BJP on Saturday called a meeting of the party's Scheduled Tribe Morcha, which was also attended by the heads of all other departments. The discussion primarily focused on how to communicate the details of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 to the common man. During the meeting, the party, following instructions from the high command, decided to start an initial phase of an awareness campaign from April 20 to May 5, which will be led by the ST Morcha. ST Morcha national general secretary Gajendra Singh Patel claimed that 200 tribal properties were occupied by the Waqf Board in the state.

Speaking to reporters, state BJP President VD Sharma said, "BJP, after passing the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and then getting the assent of the President, will now take the discussion to every section of society. For this, we are going to start an awareness campaign. Today, we have a meeting with the scheduled tribe cell, our Union ministers Savitri Thakur and Durgadas Uike, and state minister for scheduled tribe welfare Vijay Shah. All morcha state presidents and general secretaries are discussing how the amendment bill will benefit the scheduled tribes."

Sharma argued that many tribal properties were encroached upon and captured by claiming that they were Waqf property. "The Supreme Court is hearing the case, and the govt is presenting its side before the court. We cannot say much, but through today's meeting, we are trying to see how the common man, including the scheduled tribes, can be made aware of the provisions of the new Waqf law," VD Sharma said.

In the meeting, the state BJP leadership reasoned that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will provide protection to the properties of tribal society. The ST Morcha workers should take the new Waqf Amendment Act to every village. The meeting was addressed by VD Sharma, state BJP organisational general secretary Hitanand Sharma, Union minister Durgadas Uike, and ST Morcha national general secretary Gajendra Singh Patel.

Addressing the meeting, the BJP state president said that the properties of tribals have been protected under the new Waqf Amendment Act. "We must make the provisions of this Act reach the people in our respective areas. Earlier, the Waqf Board could claim anyone's land, and it was the responsibility of the landowner to prove that the land belonged to him," Sharma said. "If he was unable to do so, the land would be occupied by the Waqf Board. Lands of many tribal brothers have also been occupied in the same way. Prime Minister Modi's govt has put a stop to this by bringing the Waqf Amendment Bill," he said.

Sharma also said that the BJP Scheduled Tribe Front has to go from village to village and run a public awareness campaign with such points of the Waqf Amendment Bill. He said that this bill will stop the illegal occupation of property, division, and misuse of Waqf property. "The income from Waqf property can be used for the welfare of poor Muslims. Therefore, this bill is being widely welcomed. But this has troubled the mafia and contractors, who are illegally occupying the Waqf property. These people are creating an atmosphere in society against this amendment. We have to foil these efforts," he said.

Union minister of state for tribal affairs Durgadas Uike said, "We have to tell the women, youth, teachers, and intellectuals of the Muslim society about the benefits of the amendment made in the Waqf Act. The formation of the Waqf Board is the only way to protect the poor. The Waqf Amendment Bill was made to help the helpless Muslim community and for their social and economic upliftment. The Congress Party and its leaders made the Waqf Board a means to fulfil their interests, so Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made amendments to remove the shortcomings of the Waqf Act. Now the new Waqf Act will not make the Waqf Board weak but will make it strong."

ST Morcha national general secretary Gajendra Singh Patel said that the Morcha will run a public awareness campaign from 20 April to 5 May about the Waqf Amendment Bill. "The Waqf Board has occupied more than 200 properties of tribals in Madhya Pradesh. The Waqf Amendment Bill has taken care of the lands of the tribals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that after the implementation of the Waqf Amendment Bill, the Waqf Board will not be able to occupy even an inch of tribal land."