Karnataka Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan has expressed strong opposition to the recently passed Waqf Amendment Act, stating that the Karnataka government has decided not to implement the law within the state.
Speaking to the media, Khan said, “Like Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, our government also does not accept the Waqf Amendment Act. Though the bill has been passed, we believe it shouldn’t have been. We plan to challenge it in court and are confident of getting justice. Karnataka will not implement this law.”
He also referred to the violence that broke out during protests against the Act in Murshidabad, West Bengal, expressing sorrow over the deaths of three individuals during the unrest.
Protests in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and Jangipur turned violent with demonstrators clashing with police, resulting in stone-pelting and police vehicles being set ablaze. As per West Bengal Police, three people lost their lives on Friday. Following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, five BSF companies were deployed to assist state police. So far, 150 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Mahmood Madani also criticised the Waqf law, labelling it a politically driven move aimed at facilitating land grabs under the pretext of reform.
Speaking in Delhi, Madani said the amendment was not intended to improve the functioning of Waqf Boards, but rather to serve the interests of a few. “This isn’t really about Waqf—it’s about politics. The law was brought in with ill intent, either by vilifying or pretending to support Muslims,” he remarked.
