AAP Legislator Amanatullah Khan Challenges Waqf Bill in SC; BJP Calls It a Publicity Stunt

Synopsis

Amanatullah Khan, an AAP MLA, has filed a petition against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the Supreme Court, claiming it infringes on Muslim autonomy. The BJP denounces his action as a publicity stunt. The AAP criticizes the Bill for promoting executive interference and undermining minority rights.

Key Takeaways

Amanatullah Khan challenges Waqf Amendment Bill in SC.
BJP claims Khan's petition is a publicity stunt.
The AAP condemns the Bill for undermining minority rights.
Khan faces legal troubles linked to corruption allegations.
He won the Okhla constituency by a significant margin.

New Delhi, April 5 (NationPress) A heated exchange erupted between the BJP and the AAP in Delhi on Saturday, following the move by Okhla MLA and former ‘Chairman’ of the Delhi Waqf Board, Amanatullah Khan, to file a petition in the Supreme Court against the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025.

Khan argues that the Bill infringes upon the religious and cultural autonomy of Muslims, allows for arbitrary executive interference, and diminishes the rights of minorities to oversee their religious and charitable organizations.

In response, the BJP accused him of attempting to win over his electorate through a mere publicity stunt.

The AAP criticized the Bill, which was approved by Parliament on Friday, asserting that it would foster arbitrary executive interference and infringe upon minority rights to manage their religious and charitable institutions.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor remarked that since the change of government in the city, Khan is no longer the Chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, making his challenge to the Bill a personal endeavor rather than one representing the Board.

Kapoor added that the citizens of Delhi, including the Muslim community, are well aware of the extent of corruption that transpired within the Delhi Waqf Board during Khan's leadership.

“His rush to the Supreme Court stems from fear of exposure regarding that corruption and his involvement in it,” he stated.

Khan has faced various legal challenges throughout his decade-long tenure as an Okhla legislator. In September of the previous year, he was detained by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering investigation linked to irregularities in appointments made during his chairmanship of the Delhi Waqf Board, although he was subsequently granted bail.

In February, Khan was charged for attempting to obstruct police and for engaging in a physical altercation. A police official reported that the incident occurred in the Jamia Nagar area when the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police sought to arrest one Shabaz Khan, who was wanted in an attempted murder case. Khan's confrontation with the police team allowed Shabaz to evade capture.

Khan triumphed over BJP's Manish Chaudhary by a margin of 23,639 votes in the recent Delhi Assembly elections. Khan secured 88,392 votes compared to Chaudhary's 65,304 votes, marking Khan's third consecutive victory in the Okhla constituency.