New Delhi: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday criticised fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for spreading misinformation about the Centre’s Waqf Amendment Bill. Zakir Naik, who faces charges of money laundering and hate speech in India, released a video message alleging that the bill, if passed, would result in the government seizing thousands of mosques, madrasas, graveyards and vast tracts of land belonging to Muslims.
He also accused the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of being “anti-Islamic” and “anti-Muslim,” claiming that it was attempting to appropriate Muslim-owned lands. In response, Kiren Rijiju condemned Naik, referring to him as an “anti-India character” and criticised him for spreading false propaganda. “This anti-India character is spewing venoms by spreading false and fake propaganda & also trying to create communal disturbances in India,” Kiren Rijiju wrote in a post on X. “We need to unitedly fight against such people.”
This anti-India character is spewing venoms by spreading false and fake propaganda & also trying to create communal disturbances in India. We need to unitedly fight against such people. https://t.co/6opLYT3ubF
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 14, 2024
Naik, Rijiju spar over Waqf Bill
Earlier this week, Zakir Naik, in a separate post, warned of the “evil repercussions” of the Waqf Amendment Bill. He called on his followers to voice their concerns by submitting objections to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). “Please do not mislead the innocent Muslims from outside our country. India is a democratic country and people have the right to their own opinion. False propaganda will lead to wrong narratives,” Rijiju had replied to him earlier.
Waqf Bill sent to JPC after fiery debate
The Waqf Amendment Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8 and subsequently referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) following a heated debate. The government has maintained that the bill does not aim to interfere with mosques, but the opposition has criticized it, arguing that it targets Muslims and undermines the Constitution. The JPC has invited input from the public, NGOs, experts, stakeholders, and institutions for their views and suggestions.
