In a powerful speech during his Ambedkar Jayanti address in Hisar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party over its opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act. PM Modi accused Congress of "appeasing fundamentalists" and misusing the Indian Constitution for vote-bank politics. He claimed that Waqf lands, meant for the benefit of poor Muslims, had been exploited by land mafias rather than aiding the underprivileged.

PM Modi's Allegations on Waqf Lands

PM Modi emphasized the need for the amended Waqf law, which he claimed would end the exploitation of Waqf properties. He argued that for years, large tracts of land designated as Waqf were "looted" by land mafias, instead of being utilized for the welfare of poor Muslims. The Waqf Act amendment prohibits the Waqf board from claiming Adivasi land, a move PM Modi described as real social justice. According to the Prime Minister, this change would especially benefit Pasmanda Muslims (backward Muslims), a group that often faces marginalization. He declared that the amended law would stop the loot of lands meant for the community’s welfare.

PM Modi also remarked, “Congress only appeased fundamentalists. The biggest proof of this is the Waqf law. Lakhs of hectares of land were kept aside in the name of Waqf, but poor Muslims never benefitted. It was the land mafia who gained. This loot will now stop with the new law.”

Congress Accused of Betraying Ambedkar's Vision

Further, the Prime Minister targeted Congress for betraying the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He accused Congress of treating Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and OBCs as second-class citizens and blocking Ambedkar’s vision of social justice. PM Modi claimed that Congress humiliated Ambedkar during his life, opposed his ideas, and even tried to erase his legacy. He alleged that Congress resisted implementing a common civil law, despite it being part of the Constitution’s spirit. He added that while Congress opposed the Uniform Civil Code, states like Uttarakhand had already implemented it.

Kharge’s Response to PM Modi’s Claims

In response to PM Modi's remarks, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge fiercely defended his party's stance on Ambedkar’s ideals and social justice. Kharge accused the BJP of historical hypocrisy, asserting that the BJP had been opposed to Ambedkar's vision in the past, especially when Ambedkar adopted Buddhism. He said that when Ambedkar and his followers embraced Buddhism, the BJP’s ideological predecessors claimed that he had become an untouchable and even criticized Buddhism.

Kharge further highlighted Congress’s consistent push for social justice, including their support for reservation for women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). He pointed out that it was Congress that pushed for the immediate implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill and inclusion of SC, ST, and OBC quotas, and this commitment to social equality remained unwavering.

PM Modi's Other Initiatives in Haryana

Earlier in the day, PM Modi took part in several important events in Haryana. He flagged off the first commercial flight from Hisar to Ayodhya and laid the foundation stone for a new terminal at Hisar airport. These initiatives are part of the government's push to enhance regional connectivity and infrastructure. Additionally, PM Modi inaugurated several major infrastructure projects in Yamunanagar, including an 800-MW thermal power unit and a biogas plant under the GOBAR-Dhan scheme, a government initiative focused on promoting biogas production from agriculture waste.

Conclusion

PM Modi's attack on Congress over the Waqf (Amendment) Act and his Ambedkar Jayanti speech highlights the ongoing political battle over issues related to social justice, land reforms, and vote-bank politics. While the BJP asserts its commitment to real social justice through policy amendments, the Congress continues to defend its long-standing positions, particularly on matters related to the rights of marginalized communities and historical narratives. The upcoming political discourse will likely continue to center around these polarizing topics as the 2025 elections approach.

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