NWEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government will table the Waqf (Amendement) Bill, 2024, in Lok Sabha on April 2, which the INDIA bloc has unanimously decided to oppose it.
The bill will be tabled after the question hour tomorrow for consideration and passing, and following which an 8 hour discussion will be held, which is also subject to increased, Rijiu informed.
INDIA bloc unanimously decided to oppose bill
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday said that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a targeted legislation and is fundamentally against the Constitutional provisions.
Venugopal said, “In the introduction stage itself, the INDIA alliance and all like-minded parties had a clear-cut stand on it. This bill is a targeted legislation and is fundamentally against the Constitutional provisions. We are going to oppose this bill… This is what has been decided unanimously by the INDIA alliance parties. We request other like-minded parties also to vote against this bill…”
The Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge also said that all the Opposition parties are united and shall work together on the floor of the Parliament, to defeat the Unconstitutional and divisive agenda of the Modi Govt on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
These remarks came after the Opposition INDIA bloc discussed their joint strategy to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. The opposition parties held a meeting in the Parliament House to discuss and formulate their strategy as a showdown over the contentious bill is imminent.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, NCP leader Supriya Sule, TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee, and AAP’s Sanjay Singh attended the meeting.
DMK’s T R Baalu, Tiruchi Siva and Kanimozhi, RJD’s Manoj Kumar Jha, CPI-M’s John Brittas, CPI’s Sandosh Kumar P, RSP’s N K Premchandran and Vaiko were also present in the meeting.
BJP, Congress, JD(U) and TDP issue whip to its MPs to be present tomorrow
The BJP has directed all its Rajya Sabha members to ensure their attendance in Parliament on April 3 to back the government’s position on crucial legislative issues.
Additionally, the party has instructed its Lok Sabha representatives to attend Parliament’s session on April 2.
The Lok Sabha is scheduled to consider the Waqf (Amendment) Bill for passage on Wednesday.
“All Members of the Rajya Sabha of the Bharatiya Janata Party are hereby informed that some very important legislative matters will be taken up for passing in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 3rd April 2025,” stated an official BJP communication.
“All Bharatiya Janata Party Members of the Rajya Sabha are requested to be positively present in the House throughout the day on Thursday, 3rd April 2025, and to support the government’s stand,” the communication further specified.
After BJP, the TDP, JD(U), and Congress also issued a whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs for April 2.
Bill grave violation of Article 14, 25, 26 and 29: Owaisi
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi expressed strong opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bil, stating it violates Articles 14, 25, 26 and 29 of the Indian Constitution. He labelled it as “Waqf Barbaad Bill” and questioned the support from NDA allies.
During his interaction with reporters, Owaisi challenged the stance of political leaders including Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary regarding their backing of the bill. He questioned their accountability to the public in the coming years.
“This bill is unconstitutional. This bill is a grave violation of Article 14, Articles 25, 26 and 29. This is not Waqf Bill rather it’s a Waqf Barbaad Bill. If Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary will praise it then they are doing so for their political reasons… They are supporting it but what answer will they give to the public after 5 years? If no non-Hindu can become a member in the Hindu Endowment Board, then why are you making a non-Muslim here?…” Owaisi told reporters.
TDP supports Waqf Amendment bill, says bill is in interest of Muslims
Telugu Desham Party (TDP) national spokesperson Prem Kumar Jain announced that his party endorses the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, confirming that Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu stands supportive of the Muslim community.
Elaborating on the legislation, Prem Kumar Jain stated, “The whole Muslim community is waiting for the Waqf Amendment Bill to be tabled…Our party will support it. Chandrababu Naidu has already mentioned that we will work in interests of the Muslim community. Tomorrow, the bill will be tabled, only then we will make any comments on it. I assure you that Chandrababu Naidu is in the favour of Muslims.”
Congress representative Pramod Tiwari expressed opposition to the bill, noting that the JPC had dismissed their concerns.
Tiwari clarified the party’s position, stating, “We (Congress) have a very clear stand on Waqf. When the JPC was formed, we had presented all our objections but they were not accepted there. When this (Waqf Amendment Bill) comes to the House, we will oppose it in the same way as we did in the JPC.”
JD(U) demands bill should not be implemented with retrospective effect
The Janata Dal (United), a significant BJP coalition partner led by Nitish Kumar, has urged that the bill’s implementation should not be retroactive and expressed optimism about the government’s consideration of this request.
JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha highlighted, “Nitish Kumar has been working in Bihar for the last 19 years. During this time, the work he has done for the Muslim community is also visible. Our party had said that it should not be implemented with retrospective effect, and we hope that the government will consider it… As long as Nitish Kumar is in politics, the interests of the people will be protected.”
Party spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan stated, “A delegation of the Muslim community met Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and expressed their concerns regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Nitish Kumar asks party representatives to raise these concerns in the JPC and party representative Dileshwar Kamait raised these concerns in the JPC. Surely, these suggestions must have been taken into consideration as well.”
AIMPLB asks BJP allies to oppose Waqf (Amendment) Bill
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) appealed to all secular political parties, including BJP’s allies and MPs to strongly oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill and not vote in its favour under any circumstances.
“The President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, has appealed to all secular parties and members of Parliament to not only strongly oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill when it is presented in Parliament tomorrow but also to vote against it to prevent the BJP’s communal agenda. He stated that this bill is not only based on discrimination and injustice,but also directly contradicts the provisions of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution,” AIMPLB said in the statement.
“He further stated that through this bill, the BJP aims to weaken Waqf laws and pave the way for the seizure and destruction of Waqf properties. Even with the existence of the Places of Worship Act, the issue of searching for temples in every mosque is continuously escalating. If this amendment is passed, there will be a surge in illegitimate governmental and non-governmental claims on Waqf properties, making it easier for Collectors and District Magistrates to seize them,” he added.
Delhi Police tightens security ahead of Waqf (Amendment) bill discussion
The Delhi Police has strengthened its security measures across various sensitive locations in anticipation of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill’s presentation in the Lok Sabha, aiming to prevent any disruption of peace by disruptive elements.
“To maintain law and order at multiple sensitive areas, we have intensified night patrolling and additional deployment will be arranged,” a senior police officer said, requesting anonymity.
The official confirmed that instructions have been issued to all deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) to maintain vigilant supervision. The DCPs have developed comprehensive strategies to preserve peace and order within their jurisdictions, the official noted.
“No one will be allowed to breach law and order,” said the officer.
