BJP MLA T Raja Singh, while speaking at a Ram Navami procession in Telangana, claimed that the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, would put an end to what he described as “land jihad” in India. T Raja Singh, known for his controversial statements, said that the amended law would restrict the ability of Waqf boards to claim public or private lands, a practice he alleged was widely misused before. His remarks come amid heightened political and communal sensitivities, and follow President Droupadi Murmu’s approval of the bill after parliamentary debate.
‘Land jihad’ claims and political messaging
Addressing a large gathering on Sunday, T Raja Singh alleged that those who previously issued Waqf notices and put up boards claiming land ownership could no longer do so under the amended legislation. “They used to act like the land was inherited from their ancestors. Now, with Modi ji’s new Waqf law, they won’t be able to,” he said. The BJP MLA also claimed that Muslims had originally been given around 4,000 acres of land during the early days of India’s independence, but that the Waqf boards now controlled nearly 9.5 lakh acres, questioning how the expansion happened.
T Raja Singh emphasized that the amendment would not take away legitimately owned land from Muslims and aligned his argument with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” suggesting that the legislation was about fairness and transparency, not religious targeting. His comments appear to be a mix of community outreach and ideological assertion, often seen in polarizing political rhetoric.
Owaisi, Opposition, and Security Deployment
The BJP leader also attacked AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, calling him the “biggest enemy of Muslims.” T Raja Singh criticized Owaisi’s decision to challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court, stating that such legal moves would not alter the new law’s impact. Owaisi had earlier expressed concerns that the amendment erodes legal protections for religious and charitable endowments, including Hindu, Jain, and Sikh institutions.
The Ram Navami procession led by T Raja Singh saw participation from thousands and stretched into the night. To maintain law and order, around 20,000 police personnel were deployed across sensitive areas in Telangana. The event went off peacefully, aided by elaborate security arrangements put in place by local authorities.
