New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is expected to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow, with both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress issuing whips to their MPs to ensure their presence in the House for the next three days.
With the parties in both the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and the Opposition INDIA bloc showing no signs of bipartisan consensus, the final outcome may be decided by the majority numbers on the floor.
In line with the BJP and Congress, their allies have also issued a whip to all their MPs to be present in Parliament on April 2 and 3. Shiv Sena issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs to support the government’s stand. Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who leads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), also issued a three-line whip to all his party’s Lok Sabha MPs to be present in the House.
Meanwhile, INDIA bloc floor leaders held a meeting in Parliament to discuss their strategy regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
The Opposition has been vocal in its criticism of the Waqf Bill, with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief whip Dharmendra Yadav issuing a three-line whip to all SP MPs in the Lok Sabha to be present on April 2 and participate in discussions.
After the meeting of Opposition parties, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated on X that all Opposition parties are united and will work together in Parliament to defeat what he called the “unconstitutional and divisive agenda” of the Modi government regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari called the bill an attempt to divide the country. “This bill is against the basic spirit of the Constitution. The INDI alliance will reject any such attempt with full force. It is clear that the BJP does not believe in the Constitution. Today, the whole country is looking towards Nitish Kumar, Chandra Babu Naidu, and Chirag Paswan. Tomorrow, everyone’s stance will be exposed,” he said.
RJD MP Misa Bharti reiterated opposition to the bill, urging JDU to clarify its position. “We have learned that the Waqf Bill is likely to be tabled tomorrow. Our stand is clear; we are against it. The JDU should also make their stand clear, as the people of the state are watching them,” she said.
CPI-M MP John Brittas accused the bill of being a tool for polarization. “The INDI alliance’s stand is clear; we will take a strong position against the bill. This bill is meant to create polarization in society. If Muslims are targeted today, other minority communities will be targeted tomorrow,” he said.
CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar echoed similar sentiments, saying, “The INDI alliance will oppose this bill. We all will participate in the discussion. There will be fiery speeches. The INDI alliance is united in this movement.”
Jan Suraaj party founder Prashant Kishor questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s silence on the bill. “This is an old tactic of Nitish Kumar. He voted in support of CAA-NRC. When I confronted him at the time, he told me to inform journalists that it wouldn’t be implemented in Bihar. He is not loyal to anyone—neither the BJP nor the Muslims. People have seen through his tactics,” Kishor said.
AIMPLB spokesperson Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas criticized the process of introducing the bill, calling it undemocratic. “The way this bill has been brought in is wrong. The JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) proceedings were flawed. Other members were not heard in the committee. This bill is unconstitutional and discriminatory,” he said.
On the other hand, BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai defended the bill, stating that it aligns with constitutional principles. “The bill upholds constitutional values, particularly Articles 14 and 15, which emphasize equality. The amendment made by the UPA government in 2013 created aberrations where natural justice was avoided. This bill is necessary to correct those anomalies,” he said.
BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar questioned the necessity of a Waqf Board in a secular country. “In a democracy, the Opposition will always speak against the ruling government. But India is secular. Why do you need a Waqf Board? There is no Waqf Board in Islamic nations. If there is a Waqf Board in India, there should be something similar for Hindus, Christians, and Jains too,” he said.
BJP MP Rameswar Teli reaffirmed the party’s commitment to passing the bill. “The Opposition will oppose this bill, but our party has pledged to bring it in. We want everyone to participate in discussions, and we hope to pass the bill,” he said.
The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to address issues in regulating and managing Waqf properties. The amendment seeks to improve the administration of Waqf properties by renaming the Act, updating the definition of Waqf, streamlining the registration process, and incorporating technology for better record management.
The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long faced criticism for mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. (ANI)
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