T Raja Singh Claims Amended Waqf Bill Will End ‘Land Jihad’

Telangana BJP legislator T Raja Singh on Sunday claimed that the newly amended Waqf Bill would help put an end to what he described as “land jihad” in India.

Speaking at a Ram Navami procession, Singh said individuals involved in “land jihad” had been facing increasing obstacles since a “saffron government” came to power. He accused certain groups of claiming land by issuing Waqf notices and stated that the amended bill would prevent such practices.

“Earlier, they would place Waqf boards on land as if it was inherited property. With the Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that will no longer be possible,” Singh said.

The Goshamahal MLA also questioned the expansion of Waqf land holdings over the decades. “At independence, Waqf boards had around 4,000 acres. How did that become 9.5 lakh acres?” he asked.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, became law on Saturday following presidential assent, after extensive debate in Parliament.

Singh assured that the law would not strip Muslims of their land and cited Modi’s slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” to emphasize inclusivity.

Targeting AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Singh called him the “biggest enemy of Muslims” for opposing the legislation. He said Owaisi’s move to challenge the law in the Supreme Court would not affect its implementation.

Owaisi’s petition argues that the amendment undermines protections for Waqf properties, as well as Hindu, Jain, and Sikh endowments.

Concluding his speech, Singh reiterated a long-standing demand from some quarters for India to be declared a “Hindu Rashtra.”

The Ram Navami procession led by Singh continued into the night, with nearly 20,000 police personnel deployed to maintain law and order.