"Anti-Constitution, Anti-Muslim": Here's How Opposition Leaders Objected To Introduction Of Waqf Bill In Lok Sabha

1. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal called the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 a "fundamental attack on the Constitution" by citing that the land is donated by believers (of Islam) and hence, the government should not interfere.

He objected to the clause allowing a non-Muslim to be a part of the Waqf Council and said that it was an attack on the religion of Muslims. He alleged that the attack on Muslims is just a beginning, it will be followed by attacks on Christians.

Venugopal claimed that the Bill is being brought ahead of the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections, with the intention of polarisation. He alleged that the Bill also attacks the federal structure of India.

"Your fundamental idea is to create conflict between communities and make violence everywhere... You are ill-motivated to divide the country. We object, this bill cannot be introduced and passed," he added.

2. Samajwadi Party (SP) MP from Rampur, Mohibullah pointed out that many temple trusts of Hindus do not allow non-Hindus on their board and questioned, "Why is injustice being done to Muslims?"

He claimed that we will have to pay for centuries for this fault (of bringing this law). "If things are relevant to my mazhab (religion), how can anyone interfere in it? Will they decide what is written in the Quran?" he added.

In an indirect reference to violence, the SP MP expressed apprehensions that this Bill can bring people on the streets.

3. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandopadhyay called the Waqf Bill violative of the Article 14 and divisive and alleged that it goes against the federal structure of the country.

4. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi said, "It is a sad day... This bill is against the Constitution, federalism, religious minorities and humanity. It violates Article 25 of the Constitution."

She questioned, "Why should somebody who does not believe in a particular religion should have a right to make decisions on behalf of that religion? It violates minorities' rights to administer its affairs."

5. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule urged the Narendra Modi government to withdraw the Bill or send it to a Standing Committee as no consultation was done.

She also questioned why the Bill came out in the media before the Parliament. To this, Parliament Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju clarified that the Bill was first sent to all MPs and then it came out in the public domain.

Sule objected to giving powers of making decisions to the District Collector and alleged that the Bill weakens the Waqf Tribunal and cooperative federalism.

Asserting that minorities should be protected, she questioned the intent of the Bill and the timing. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla clarified that the Bill was circulated to MPs on 6 August.

6. Malappuram MP E T Mohammed Basheer of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) alleged that the Bill is ill-motivated and takes the powers of state governments and gives them to Collectors.

"This will jeopardise the system. This Bill makes the Collector superior to the Chairman of the Board. It makes evacuation of the property almost impossible. You are encouraging encroachment on Waqf land," he added.

7. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP K Radhakrishnan alleged that the intention of this Bill was to demolish the Waqf system and demanded to send the Bill to the Standing Committee for wider consultation.

8. Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N K Premchandran "vehemently opposed" the Bill by alleging that it violates fundamental rights and the principle of secularism as prescribed in the Constitution.

"Government is intruding in the religious affairs of Muslims and targeting them... The Waqf Board will become totally powerless, you are dismantling the system. It lacks bonafide," he added.

Premchandran claimed that the Bill will not survive judicial scrutiny and alleged it is being brought by keeping the Maharashtra elections in mind. He appealed to withdraw the Bill or send it to some committee.

9. AIMIM MP from Hyderabad Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the House does not have the competence to legislate on the Waqf Board and opposed its introduction in the House.

"A Hindu can give complete property to whoever one wants. You are restraining the same rights for a Muslim... Who will decide who is practicing Islam for five years? It violates Freedom of Religion," he claimed.

"Waqf properties are not public properties. The government wants to take over the Dargahs and Masjids of Waqf... This Bill is divisive. You are the enemy of Muslims, this Bill proves it," Owaisi concluded.

10. Congress MP from Saharanpur Imran Masood alleged that the Bill is a conspiracy to take away land from the Waqf Board. He questioned why non-Muslims are being allowed on the Board.

11. Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the Bill is a "deliberate political move." He questioned why the Modi government wants to include a non-Muslim in the Waqf Board.

"BJP is bringing this Bill to appease its sad, disappointed and extremist followers. We will have to fight for our rights. They have recently lost and hence are bringing this Bill," Yadav alleged.

12. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee alleged that the Waqf Board Bill is to target Muslims and connected it to the BJP's alleged attempt to make India a "Hindu Rashtra."

13. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmad claimed that this Bill is against minorities and secularism of the country.

14. YSRCP MP P V Midhun Reddy agreed with Owaisi and opposed the Bill.