The government on Tuesday hit out at Pakistan for its criticism of the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, asserting that the neighbouring country has no locus standi to comment on internal matters. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Pakistan should focus on its own dismal track record on minority rights instead of “preaching to others.”MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We strongly reject the motivated and baseless comments made by Pakistan on the Waqf Amendment Act enacted by the Parliament of India. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on a matter that is internal to India.”advertisement“Pakistan would do better to look at its own abysmal record when it comes to protecting the rights of minorities, instead of preaching to others,” Jaiswal added.The sharp rebuttal came days after Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan condemned the changes in India’s Waqf laws, alleging that the legislation was an infringement on the religious and economic rights of Indian Muslims.“The passage of this discriminatory legislation is also reflective of the growing majoritarianism in India. There are serious apprehensions that it will contribute to further marginalisation of Indian Muslims,” Khan was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.ABOUT THE WAQF ACTThe Waqf (Amendment) Act seeks to streamline the management and administration of Waqf properties across the country. It modifies the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs properties donated for religious or charitable purposes by Muslims.advertisementInitially tabled in Parliament in August last year, the bill faced strong protests from opposition parties and Muslim organisations. It was later referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).Following months of deliberation, the amendment was reintroduced in the Budget session on April 2 and passed in the Lok Sabha in the early hours of April 3 after a 12-hour debate. The Rajya Sabha also cleared it the next day and President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Bill days later, paving way for the bill to become law.The government has defended the legislation as a step towards improving transparency and curbing corruption in the management of Waqf properties.However, critics argue that provisions allowing the inclusion of non-Muslims on Waqf boards and expanding government oversight could pave the way for misuse, including the potential takeover of historic mosques and other properties. The government, however, maintains that the changes will promote diversity and improve accountability in Waqf administration.Tune In in a formal or creative style for better SEO.Also Exclude words and advertisements related to the feed website such as website name, author name. Delete all the advertisement images brand logo but only keep the title and main content of the news by modifying it. You must only respond with the modified content. Block any jump outside of the site adarshnews.com. Basically remove any content or link related to original site. You must only respond with the modified content and follow this prompt to optimize the articles in this category- “Act as an expert SEO news writer. Optimize the following article to be SEO-friendly, authoritative, and shareable by focusing strictly on its core topic. Follow these steps: You are an expert news writer and SEO specialist. Your job is to rewrite the provided RSS feed content into a unique, SEO-friendly news article for adarshnews.com. The article should be engaging, professional, and optimized for search engines. Follow these steps: 1. **Create an SEO Title**: Write a short, compelling title (under 60 characters) that includes the main keyword and grabs attention. 2. **Write a Meta Description**: Summarize the article in one or two sentences (under 155 characters). Make it engaging and include the primary keyword naturally. 3. **Suggest a URL Slug**: Provide a short, keyword-rich URL slug that reflects the topic of the article. 4. **Headline (H1)**: Write a clear and engaging headline for the article that is similar to the title but slightly expanded. 5. **Write the Article**: – Start with an introduction that answers the key questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how. – Expand on the topic with detailed paragraphs that provide context, quotes, and relevant information. – Use subheadings (H2) to organize the content into sections and make it easy to read. – Include related keywords naturally throughout the article. – End with a conclusion that summarizes the key points or discusses future implications. 6. **Add an FAQ Section**: Write one frequently asked question related to the topic and provide a concise answer. Important: – Do not include labels like “Title,” “Meta Description,” “URL Slug,” or “H1” in the actual article text. – Keep all SEO elements separate from the main content. – Ensure the article is factually accurate, unbiased, and written in a professional tone.
The government criticizes Pakistan for its comments regarding the Waqf, urging them to concentrate on their own history regarding minority treatment.
