New Delhi: In the midst of the controversy surrounding the Waqf bill, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi cautioned that the Christian community could become the next target of the RSS, following an article in its publication that asserted Catholic churches are the largest landholders in India.
The now-unpublished article on the Organiser’s website claimed that Catholic institutions in India possess 7 crore hectares of land, positioning them as the largest non-governmental landowners in the country.
“I previously stated that the Waqf bill primarily targets Muslims but sets a dangerous precedent for future attacks on other communities. It did not take long for the RSS to shift its focus to Christians. The Constitution serves as our only defense against such assaults, and it is our shared responsibility to protect it,” Gandhi tweeted, linking to a news report based on the Organiser’s claims.
Describing the article as “deplorable,” senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala asserted that the BJP’s next move would be to exert control over properties owned by the Catholic community.
“During the discussions on the Waqf bill, both Congress and Rahul Gandhi warned that the subsequent target would be Christians. The article from the ‘Organiser’ explicitly states that the Catholic community in India holds 7 crore acres… The next phase will involve attempts to control the properties owned by the Catholic community,” ANI reported Chennithala as saying.
The article, titled ‘Who has more land in India? The Catholic Church vs Waqf Board debate,’ alleged that a significant portion of the land held by Catholic institutions was acquired during British colonial rule under the Indian Church Act of 1927.
It referenced a 1965 government order indicating that land leased during the colonial era would no longer be recognized as church property.
WAQF BILL PASSES PARLIAMENT HURDLE
This development follows the recent passage of the Waqf bill in Parliament, which amends legislation governing properties donated by Muslims and broadens the government’s involvement in property disputes. The bill now awaits the President’s approval to become law.
Notably, the BJP referenced the backing of the Christian community and the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council for the Waqf bill to mock the opposition.
In a lengthy discussion in Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the total Waqf land in India is estimated to be 39 lakh acres.
While the opposition argues that the bill seeks to appropriate land belonging to Muslims and infringe upon their rights, the government contends that its purpose is solely to promote transparency and accountability in the administration of Waqf properties.
