'Gol Mol Baat Mat Karo': Amit Shah Lashes At Akhilesh Yadav For 'Misleading' Claims Amid Clash Over Waqf Bill

Akhilesh Yadav said in the Lok Sabha that the Centre had moved the Waqf (Amendment) bill to "appease some supporters after its setback in the Lok Sabha".

A heated argument ensued in the Lok Sabha as Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav clashed over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was introduced by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. During the debate, Yadav claimed that the reform bill would snatch away the rights of the Speaker, following which a visibly angry Shah intervened and asked him not to make "misleading" claims.

Criticising the bill, Yadav said that no individual from outside the community is part of other religious bodies. He also called it a planned political move by the Centre.

"Yeh bill jo introduce ho raha hai woh bahut sochi samjhi rajneeti ke tehat ho raha hai. When there is a democratic process for election, why nominate people? No person from outside the community is part of other religious bodies. What is the point of including non-Muslims in Waqf bodies?" Yadav said.

He further stated that the "BJP has brought this legislation to appease some hardliner supporters after its setback in the Lok Sabha."

'Your Rights Are Being Snatched, We Would Have To Fight For You': Yadav

Opposing the bill in the House, Yadav said to Speaker Om Birla: "Your rights and our rights are being curtailed. I told you that you are the judge of democracy. I have heard that some of your rights are being snatched and we would have to fight for you."

"Speaker sir, I heard in the lobby that some of your rights are also going to be taken away and we will have to fight for you. I oppose this bill," the SP chief added.

Following this claim, Amit Shah intervened and dubbed Yadav's statement "misleading".

"The rights of the Speaker do not belong to the Opposition, but to the whole House. Akhilesh ji is tarah ki golmol ki baat aap nahi kar skate. You are not the protector of the Speaker's rights," Shah said.

To this, Yadav replied, interrupting Shah in between saying, "yeh isslia laa rahe hai kyuki abhi abhi yeh haare hai. (The government is bringing the bill since they were defeated recently)."

Referring to Yadav's remarks on the Chair, Speaker Om Birla asked Yadav to refrain from making such comments. "This is my expectation, no personal 
remarks should be made on the Chair," Birla told Yadav.

Chaos broke out in the Parliament after the Union Minority Affairs Minister Rijiju tabled the reform bill, as it promptly drew massive flak from the opposition.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill seeks to "effectively address" issues pertaining to the powers held by the State Waqf Boards, survey and registration of the board's properties, and removing encroachments.

It is an amendment of the Waqf Act 1995 and also seeks to rename the existing Act as Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

After the opposition disapproved of the reform bill, Rijiju also issued clarification that the bill does not hinder the freedom of any religious body. He also stressed that it aims to give due rights to people instead of snatching them away.

He also stated on behalf of the government that the bill should be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for detailed discussion.