INDIA Bloc Opposes Waqf Bill In Lok Sabha, Calls It A 'Political Conspiracy'

Opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Congress MP KC Venugopal accused the government of violating freedom of religion and attacking the federal system through it.

Opposition On Waqf Bill: The opposition led by the Congress on Thursday protested against the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. Several MPs of the INDIA bloc called the bill an attack on the Constitution and aimed at targeting Muslims. All the Opposition MPs unanimously urged the Central Government to withdraw the bill.

Soon after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought leave to introduce the bill, Congress MP KC Venugopal accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of violating freedom of religion and attacking the federal system through it. "This is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution," Venugopal said. The Congress MP had submitted notice to oppose its introduction.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend the law governing Waqf boards and proposes far-reaching changes in the waqf Act, 1995, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.

Lashing out at the BJP, Venugopal said that people taught the saffron party a lesson for its divisive politics but it was continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Haryana and Maharashtra. "It is a direct attack on freedom of religion … Next you will go for Christians, then Jains," he said, as quoted by news agency PTI. Venugopal asserted that the people of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now, Venugopal asserted.

Waqf Bill Being Introduced As Part Of Political Strategy: Akhilesh Yadav

Opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lower House, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the bill was being introduced to appease the BJP's hardcore supporters. Speaking during the Monsoon session of Parliament, Yadav said, "This bill, which is being introduced, is happening as part of a well-thought-out political strategy... 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."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to Akhilesh Yadav's claims and said, "Akhilesh ji, you cannot speak in such a roundabout way... You are not the protector of the Speaker's rights."

Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi said that the bil is against freedom of religion. He said appointing non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and other such bodies was violative of the rights of Muslims.

Do Not Push Agendas Without Consultations: Supriya Sule 

NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule in Lok Sabha says, "I request the govt to either withdraw this bill completely or send it to a standing committee...Please do not push agendas without consultations...."

TMC MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay Calls Bill Divisive, Anti-Constitutional

Opposing its introduction, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay said the bill was divisive, anti-constitutional and anti-federalism.

AIMIM Chief Owaisi Calls Waqf Bill 'Discriminatory And Arbitrary' 

Opposing the bill, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, "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 an evidence of the fact that you are an enemy of the Muslims."

Owaisi claimed that the House did not have the competence to make the amendments. "It is a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constituion as it violates the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers," he said. "You are enemies of Muslims and this bill is evidence of that," Owaisi stated.

Waqf (Amendment) Bill

The bill seeks to amend the law governing Waqf boards proposes far-reaching changes in the waqf Act, 1995, including ensuring the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill also aims at renaming the act to the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995. It was circulated among Lok Sabha members on Tuesday night.

According to its statement of objects and reasons, the bill seeks to omit Section 40 of the current law relating to the powers of the board to decide if a property is Waqf property. It provides for a broad-based composition of the Central Waqf Council and the state Waqf boards and ensures the representation of Muslim women and non-Muslims in such bodies.

The bill also proposes the establishment of a separate board of Auqaf for the Boharas and Aghakhanis. The draft law provides for the representation of Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, Agakhanis and other backward classes among Muslim communities. It also aims to clearly define 'Waqf' as "Waqf by any person practising Islam for at least five years and having ownership of such property".

One of its objectives is streamlining the manner of registration of Waqfs through a central portal and database. A detailed procedure is established for mutation as per revenue laws with due notice to all concerned before recording any property as a Waqf property.

The waqf Act, 1995, was brought to regulate 'Auqaf (assets donated and notified as Waqf)' by a 'wakif (a person who dedicates a property for any purpose recognised by Muslim law as religious or charitable)'. The law was last amended in 2013.