Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to amend the law governing Waqf boards. The proposed bill, which aims to grant the government substantial control over the regulation of Waqf properties, has drawn sharp criticism from Opposition MPs, who have labeled it as “unconstitutional” and “draconian.”
Congress leader KC Venugopal was vocal in his opposition, describing the bill as “draconian” and a “fundamental attack” on the Constitution. He warned that the bill could foster religious divisions and incite hatred between communities. “There is a dispute in each and every mosque where there is no deed. Your fundamental idea is to create conflict and anger between communities, leading to violence everywhere,” Venugopal stated.
Venugopal also suggested that the timing of the Waqf Bill’s introduction is linked to the upcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana. He criticized the provision allowing non-Muslims to be members of the Waqf governing council, calling it a “direct attack on freedom of religion.” He added, “Next, you will target Christians, then Jains. People of India will not accept this kind of divisive politics now.”
DMK MP Kanimozhi echoed similar sentiments, arguing that the bill violated Article 30, which grants minorities the right to administer their institutions. “This bill targets a particular religious group,” Kanimozhi asserted.
The debate over the Waqf Bill has sparked significant controversy, with Opposition parties united in their condemnation of what they perceive as an attempt to undermine religious freedoms and stoke communal tensions. As the legislative process continues, the bill’s potential impact on religious and social harmony remains a critical point of contention.
