‘These people try to fool people…’: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Zameer Ahmed Khan’s remarks on Waqf Act

HUBBALLI: Reacting to Karnataka Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan’s “we will not implement Waqf Amendment Act in Karnataka” statement, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said that for the sake of the vote bank, these people try to fool people.

“The 2013 Act was also an Act by the Parliament. So was the 1995 Act. This (2025 Act) is also by the Parliament…For the sake of the vote bank, these people try to fool people. But people are quite intelligent and I have repeatedly said, and Prime Minister and Home Minister, in their tweets have cleared that it is not against Muslims. It is to protect the property, earn more revenue and serve the poor Muslims,” said Joshi.

Earlier on Sunday, the Karnataka Minister voiced strong opposition to the Waqf Amendment Act, saying that the Karnataka government has decided not to implement this law in the state.

“Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu CM, Kerala and Karnataka government have made a decision regarding the Waqf Amendment Act that it is not acceptable to us. This bill should not have passed, but it has passed. But we will solve the problem through the court. I am sure we will get justice in the court… We will not implement in Karnataka,” Khan said.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, came into force on April 8. After a 12-hour discussion, the Upper House cleared the bill with 128 members voting in favour, whereas 95 members voted against the legislation.

The act aims to modify the Waqf Act, 1995 and the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2013. The 1995 act and the 2013 amendment laid out rules to govern the Waqf properties in India; created special courts (called Waqf Tribunals) with powers similar to civil courts (Tribunal decisions cannot be challenged in civil courts); and prohibited the sale of Waqf properties.

The opposition is hitting out at the implementation of the act, and several petitions filed in the Supreme Court have challenged the same. (ANI)