Parliament Updates: Waqf Bill Faces INDIA Bloc Opposition In Lok Sabha Amid Heated Debates, BJP Allies Extend Support

Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill will amend the law governing Waqf boards and aims to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

Opposition On Waqf (Amendment) Bill

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi accused the Centre of dividing the country and targeting Muslims. “This bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution. This bill is both discriminatory and arbitrary…By bringing this bill, you (the Central govt) are doing the work of dividing the nation not uniting it. This bill is evidence of the fact that you are an enemy of the Muslims,” he said.

Congress MP KC Venugopal called the Bill an “attack on the federal system”.

“…We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system…”

“This bill is a fundamental attack on the Constitution…Through this bill, they are putting a provision that non-Muslims also be members of the Waqf governing council. It is a direct attack on freedom of religion…Next you will go for Christians, then Jains…People of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now…” he added.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on the other hand, emphasised that the government is trying to bring “justice for those who never got justice” through this Bill.

“Forget about snatching anybody’s right. We in this bill are trying to bring justice for those who never got justice, and we will fight for their rights. The amendment to the Bill has not happened for the first time ever since independence multiple times have been amended,” he said.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said that the party demands that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill be sent to the Standing Committee.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, “As I’ve said, the motives of the government are always sinister and I think we will be opposing this bill and there’s been no wider consultation with stakeholders and we think it should be referred to the Standing Committee before it’s brought to passing in the House…”

RJD MP Misa Bharti also noted that INDIA alliance parties and RJD will oppose this bill.

According to sources, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas Paswan) proposed consultations involving all stakeholders over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.  “Nothing is wrong with the Bill and it is not against Muslims. But a Parliament Committee should look into it threadbare,” party sources said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha on Thursday over the issue of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024.

ALSO READ: ‘How Dare You…’: Dhankhar Schools Derek In Massive Rajya Sabha Ruckus Over Vinesh Phogat’s Disqualification

Speaking on the issue, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said,”…They (Opposition) think they are the only ones whose hearts are bleeding…The entire nation is in pain because of the girl. everyone is sharing the situation but to monetise it, politicise it, is the greatest disrespect to the girl. That girl has a long way to go…”

The monsoon session of Parliament commenced on July 22 and is scheduled to conclude on August 12.

Parliament Updates

• While speaking on the on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “This Bill is for development of the backwards, poor and women of the Muslim community. Why shouldn’t be Waqf property accounted for? What is the issue in you telling whether you are owner of that property or not.”
• Speaking in Lok Sabha on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “…It is not right to associate Members of Parliament with any religion. We are not saying that people of different religions should be made a part of Waqf board. We are saying that a Member of Parliament should be a member (of the Waqf board). Now, if the MP is a hindu or Christian, then what can we do about it.? Now, if an MP is added to Waqf Board by the virtue of him/her being an MP, then should we change the MP’s religion?”
• NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule urged that the Bill be sent to the Parliament Committee. “Do not make a bill without consultation, send it to the committee,” she said.
• Opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, “It is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group…”
• Several Congress MPs including KC Venugopal issued a notice stating that the Waqf Bill is an encroachment on the fundamental right of freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution, is against the principles of federalism and is a move to divide the people communally and spread unrest in the society.
• IUML MP Mohammad Basheer also moved notice to oppose the introduction of the bill claiming that the government wants to make Waqf “toothless and powerless”. “What consultation are they talking about? Who are these stakeholders? It must be their own people they consulted. They have not discussed anything with anyone. Once parliament is over we will be taking a legal route in this matter,” he said.
• Speaking on the matter, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “The way this (Waqf (Amendment) Bill) bill is being brought, I would ask if it has been discussed within their alliance (NDA). Have JDU and TDP seen this Waqf bill and have given their consent? If it has not been done, then it is only important that whenever such a bill comes, all the stakeholders, parliamentarians must be heard and amendments to be made if needed.”
• Meanwhile, MPs from different political parties in the Opposition staged a protest against the price rise of onions and other vegetables, outside the Parliament on Thursday. As a mark of protest, MPs also wore garlands made of onion as they raise the slogan ‘pyaaj ka daam kam karo…’.
• On the Union Government to introduce Waqf Act Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha today, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, “It shows the NDA government is against the minorities. They are not for secularism, social justice. We have been telling people of the country that they are communal parties. They are fascist and that’s why they are doing this.”
• TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said, “This amendment bill should come through the Standing Committee. We (the opposition) will oppose this bill unitedly…”
• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Opposition of “misguiding” people on the issue of Waqf (Amendment) Bill. “We are not targeting anyone. They (Opposition) want to only create an atmosphere. Our minister will explain in detail when he introduces the bill. They want to misguide some people in the community. They are trying to tarnish the image of India. We are one of the best democracies in the world…” he said.