As the nation observed the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram with great reverence, tributes poured in from leaders and citizens alike, celebrating his relentless fight for social equality and upliftment of marginalized communities. In Andhra Pradesh, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Daggubati Purandeswari took the occasion to highlight the NDA government’s efforts to follow in the footsteps of Jagjivan Ram and address long-pending issues impacting disadvantaged sections, including recent developments on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

Participating in the celebrations organized at the BJP state office in Vijayawada, Purandeswari paid floral tributes to Jagjivan Ram’s portrait and lauded his contributions to India's democratic and social fabric. “He dedicated his entire life to empowering the underprivileged and left a lasting mark on Indian politics through various positions he held,” she said.

Amidst ongoing discussions on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Purandeswari clarified the intent behind the legislation. “There is a lot of misinformation being spread, particularly by Congress leaders. Sonia Gandhi called the amendment undemocratic, but it's not clear whether she was even present in the Rajya Sabha when the bill was passed. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were conspicuously absent as well,” she remarked.

Purandeswari confirmed that the Waqf Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on April 3 and cleared the Rajya Sabha the following day, April 4. She emphasized that the amendments were limited to administrative provisions of the Waqf Board and did not infringe upon religious freedoms. “We have not touched upon any religious practices or doctrines. The government respects the faith of every community,” she asserted.

She explained that under the Waqf tradition, lands donated with faith in Allah for religious purposes automatically become Waqf property. “The amendments only aim to bring more accountability and efficiency to the functioning of Waqf Boards,” she added.

Purandeswari highlighted that the bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) before being introduced in Parliament. “Over 92 lakh petitions were received, and inputs were gathered from Waqf Boards across 25 states. Feedback from more than 1.25 crore individuals was taken into consideration. This is one of the most extensive public consultations ever done for legislation,” she said.