LUCKNOW, April 1 -- Attacking the government over the Waqf Amendment Bill, former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya on Tuesday alleged that the government's intent in bringing the bill was to loot Waqf properties. Addressing a press conference at his residence in Gomti Nagar here, the Apni Janta Party chief said, "The government should not interfere in the religious matters and let the Waqf work as before."

"Ever since the BJP government came to power, the Constitution is being ignored and RSS people are being appointed in government jobs. Incidents like the murder of a Dalit nurse in Pratapgarh, the death of youth in Fatehpur and custodial death of a boy in Azamgarh are enough to understand law and order situation in the state,...