"Corruption Eating Into Nation Like Termites": Kangana Ranaut On Waqf Bill

The Waqf Amendment Bill is going to put an end to corruption that is eating into our country as termites, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut told reporters outside parliament today. The core message of the Waqf Amendment Bill was the affirmation that no individual, institution, or religious organization is above the law, she added. 

Ms Ranaut, the MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, applauded the proposed law -- which seeks to improve the management and administration of Waqf properties in India -- and said no person or organisation is bigger than the law or constitution.

"No person, no organisation, even a religious organisation, is larger than the law," she told reporters. "They are not above the law or the constitution. That is the bottom line of this bill. It is our good fortune that corruption which was eating into our country like termites, is now over," she added.  

The Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha early on Thursday after a marathon 12-hour debate that saw the government and the Opposition go head-to-head. Around 2 am, the bill was passed by 288-232 votes.  

The bill was taken up by the Rajya Sabha today, where the Congress contended that the BJP, after failing to achieve majority on its own in last year's general election, is trying to polarise society by bringing this bill. . 

The government has dismissed Opposition allegations, contending that the bill is about property and its management, not religion. Huge lands and properties have been taken over by Waqf -- aided by the Congress's appeasement politics. 

There were largescale irregularities that did not allow Waqf property to benefit women and children, which the amended law would do. 

Introducing the bill in the Upper House today, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said, "As of today, there are 8.72 lakh Waqf properties... In 2006, if the Sachar committee had estimated the earnings from 4.9 lakh Waqf properties at Rs 12,000 crore, then you can imagine the income these properties must be generating now".