Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 5 (ANI): In a sharp escalation of political rhetoric, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of widespread illegal land acquisition across Uttar Pradesh, calling it the “biggest land mafia party” in the country.
Yadav’s fiery remarks come amid heated debates over the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which has drawn strong opposition from the INDIA bloc and Muslim organizations nationwide.
“The biggest land mafia party is the BJP. No one has grabbed more land than them. Just check the registries in Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, Kanpur, and Lucknow — government lands, ponds, and other assets have been snatched in various ways,” Yadav told reporters in Lucknow.
Referring to recent violent incidents, Yadav alleged that in Gorakhpur, bullets were fired in a land dispute — evidence, he said, of the worsening situation. “The courts have repeatedly termed the bulldozer politics as inhumane, yet the maximum land mafia activity is happening in Gorakhpur and Ayodhya,” he added.
Counterpoint: Yogi Adityanath Defends Waqf Amendment Bill
Yadav’s comments were in direct response to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who on Thursday accused the Waqf board of attempting to “capture land” in Prayagraj and defended the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025.
“Now, no one can rob lands in the name of the Waqf Board. Public land will be used for building schools, hospitals, colleges, and housing for the poor,” Adityanath said, reaffirming the government’s stance on land reforms.
The Chief Minister alleged that during preparations for the Maha Kumbh, the Waqf Board made “arbitrary claims” over land ownership, prompting the state to question whether the Waqf body was turning into a “Land Mafia board.”
Political Firestorm Over Land and Identity
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, recently passed in both Houses of Parliament, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over land ownership, religious rights, and state intervention. The bill seeks to streamline the registration of Waqf properties and improve transparency through digital management systems, but critics see it as a backdoor attempt to curtail minority rights and seize religious endowments.
Akhilesh Yadav’s attack amplifies the concerns raised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), which has already announced a nationwide protest campaign under the banner “Save Waqf, Save the Constitution.”
Tensions Rise Ahead of Elections
With general elections looming, land issues, religious identity, and institutional authority have emerged as key battlegrounds. Yadav’s accusations are likely to resonate among opposition ranks, while the BJP is expected to highlight the reforms as a move to reclaim public land and ensure accountability.
Both camps appear to be gearing up for a protracted political and legal showdown as the Waqf issue continues to stir public sentiment across the country. (ANI)
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