Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 22 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday criticised the functioning of the Waqf Board, accusing it of attempting to capture land in Prayagraj.

Adityanath's remarks came in support of the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, which was passed in the Lok Sabha a day earlier.

The Chief Minister alleged that during the Maha Kumbh, the Waqf Board made arbitrary claims over land in Prayagraj and questioned its legitimacy, asking whether it functioned as a 'Land Mafia Board'.

While addressing a programme organised on the occasion of Nishadraj Guha Jayanti in Prayagraj, he said:'Some people did not want a mythological place like Prayagraj to gain its identity because their vote bank was important for them. In the name of Waqf, they had tried to capture the land here in Prayagraj and other cities as well. When we were organising Maha Kumbh, the Waqf Board was making arbitrary statements that the land of Kumbh in Prayagraj is also Waqf land. Is it the Waqf Board or the "Land Mafia" Board?'

Yogi Adityanath also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for what he called 'putting a check' on the Waqf Board and expressed confidence that the bill would pass in the Rajya Sabha as well.

'We have already wiped the mafia out of Uttar Pradesh. We are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for putting a check on the Waqf Board and doing welfare work by passing this important act in the Lok Sabha. Today, it will be passed in the Rajya Sabha as well,' he said.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday moved a motion for consideration of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Musalmaan Wakf (Repeal) Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was tabled in the Rajya Sabha a day after it was cleared with a majority in the Lok Sabha. The Lower House witnessed a 12-hour debate, after which the bill was passed with 288 votes in favour and 232 against.

The bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 to improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India. It aims to address the shortcomings of the previous act, enhance the efficiency of Waqf Boards, improve the registration process, and increase the use of technology in managing Waqf records.

(ANI)