West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. She said to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "You speak against Muslims in the country, but when you go to Saudi Arabia, you tie a cloth on your head and go to holy places. This is hypocrisy. "Mamata's comments have created a stir in political circles. She directly attacked the recent amendment to the Waqf Act as discriminatory against the Muslim community. She alleged that on the one hand, the BJP government is enacting laws that are against the religious and social rights of the Muslim community, and on the other hand, it is trying to show a different face on the international stage.
She said, "Waqf land is used for religious and public welfare purposes of the Muslim community. You are trying to take that away. Why? Is it constitutional? If you take away the rights of minorities, where does the Constitution stand?"
The Supreme Court is already hearing a case regarding the Waqf Amendment Act and the country's highest court has ordered the Centre to respond within a week. In this context, Mamata's comments have sparked a fresh debate in national politics.
Mamata further said, "People of all religions in India have the right to live, work and practice their religion equally. You are targeting Muslims again and again—sometimes CAA, sometimes NRC, sometimes Waqf Act. Where do you want to take this country through the politics of division?"
She finally said, "I am a Hindu. I am a proud Indian. But I want every person in my country—be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh—to live with respect. Religion is everyone's, but rights belong to everyone."
Through this statement, Mamata not only attacked the BJP's religion-based politics, but also raised the Waqf issue as a big question of minority rights and secularism.
