RSS Turns Attention to Catholic Church land after passage of Waqf Amendment Bill

Following the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, attention within Sangh Parivar circles is shifting towards the land holdings of the Catholic Church in India, Muslim Mirror reported.

An article from Organiser, affiliated with the RSS, suggests that Catholic institutions own nearly 7 crore hectares of land, labeling the Church as the “largest non-governmental landowner” in the country. It raises concerns about transparency and regulation, paralleling arguments used to justify the Waqf Act amendments.

While the article stops short of demanding legislation or inquiries, its timing indicates a strategic focus shift. The Waqf Bill, criticized for increasing government control over Muslim endowments, has ignited debates on religious property rights. This development raises alarms among minority communities about potential targeting through legislative means, with critics warning it could exacerbate communal tensions and threaten India’s pluralistic society. As of now, there has been no official response from the government or Church authorities regarding these claims.