The opposition has unanimously agreed to hold a full discussion of the Waqf Amendment Bill today and vote against it in parliament. The decision was made at a meeting last evening attended by all opposition parties. “We have decided to actively participate in the discussion of the bill, and there will be strong opposition to passing the bill,” RSP’s NK Premachandran told NDTV in an exclusive interview, noting that the Opposition has opposed the bill at every level.
He stated that no walkouts, demonstrations, or disruptions would take place. “We will highlight the bill’s flaws and shortcomings. “It will be a very academic discussion,” he said. “Along with the INDIA alliance, we are appealing to like-minded parties as well, because this is a clear violation of the constitution,” senior Congress leader KC Venugopal explained.
The controversial measure aims to reform the management and administration of Waqf lands in India. It will be debated and passed by the Lok Sabha today. According to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, the debate will last approximately eight hours, despite the opposition’s request for ten.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill
The controversial measure was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in August. The draft, which proposes 40 amendments to the Waqf Act, suggests changes such as ensuring inclusion for Muslim women and non-Muslims on Waqf boards. It also recommends significant reforms to the management and governance of India’s waqf boards. This oversees Islamic charitable endowments, according to the Hindustan Times.
The administration contended that the law would reform an old and cumbersome system in accordance with the Rajinder Sachar Committee’s 2006 recommendations. However, the opposition urged more investigation of the measure, claiming that it would harm Muslim communities.
The Waqf law was adopted with various revisions by a joint parliamentary committee. The JPC report was delivered to Parliament during the Budget session. The panel proposed amending the name of the Waqf bill to the “Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act.”
The Controversy around the Waqf Bill
The Waqf law aims to improve the management and administration of Waqf properties across India. Opposition parties have slammed the bill, claiming it is unconstitutional and discriminatory towards Muslims. The measure, which seeks to modify the Waqf Act of 1995, which oversees the management of Muslim-donated estates, was introduced in Parliament last August. Despite fierce protests from the opposition and numerous Muslim groups, the bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
After weeks of heated debate, which included Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee shattering a glass bottle and hurting himself, the JPC approved 14 revisions to the measure. The opposition MPs’ 44 amendments were rejected by the Jagdambika Pal-led panel. The law was ultimately passed by the Union Cabinet in February.
The BJP-led Centre has set aside eight hours for a debate on the bill, and is sure that it will pass due to its majority. The Congress-led opposition has vowed to mount a vigorous struggle. The NDA now has 293 members, while the BJP has 240 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who has been heading the Opposition’s response to the Waqf bill. They stated that the new legislation will limit Muslims’ religious freedom.
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