Rijiju Claims Opposition Privately Backs Waqf Bill Ahead Of Waqf Showdown Today
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is poised for a heated debate in the Lok Sabha today, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleging that several opposition leaders privately back the legislation despite their public opposition. The bill, aimed at reforming the management of waqf properties, has sparked a fierce divide, with the BJP-led NDA confident of its passage and the INDIA bloc vowing to block it.
The Lok Sabha is set to take up the Waqf (Amendment) Bill at noon, with the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), chaired by Speaker Om Birla, allocating eight hours for discussion. This follows a walkout by opposition members from a BAC meeting on Tuesday, who had demanded 12 hours to debate the contentious legislation. The bill is expected to move to the Rajya Sabha later this week.
Ahead of the session, Kiren Rijiju, the Minority Affairs Minister, claimed that many opposition MPs, including Congress leaders, support the bill behind closed doors. “Those who are opposing it are doing so for political reasons. Many privately say this bill is needed, but they’re opposing it for vote banks,” he said. He accused critics of misleading Muslims, drawing parallels to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) controversy.
The bill proposes significant changes, including mandatory inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and state waqf boards. It also shifts authority over property disputes to senior state officials, replacing the earlier proposal of district collectors. Another amendment removes the “waqf by user” clause, raising concerns over the status of undocumented waqf properties.
The NDA, with 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, argues that the bill will enhance transparency and efficiency in waqf property management. “This bill looks after the poorest Muslims and ends the misuse of power by Waqf Boards,” Rijiju said, emphasizing its intent to benefit the community. The government also plans to digitize waqf records for better administration.
The INDIA bloc, including Congress and Trinamool Congress, has labeled the bill unconstitutional, arguing it undermines Muslim autonomy and centralizes control. Their resistance intensified after the JPC cleared 14 amendments while rejecting 44 opposition proposals. On Tuesday, bloc leaders met to unify their strategy, pledging to vote against the bill.
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Introduced in August 2024, the bill faced immediate backlash, leading to its referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Deliberations were marked by dramatic moments, including TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee injuring himself by smashing a glass bottle. The government maintains that the amendments address long-standing issues in waqf governance.
Rijiju accused detractors of fearmongering, stating, “Misguidance will be exposed.” Meanwhile, opposition leaders have remained firm. A Congress source said, “This is about protecting constitutional rights, not politics.” The debate promises to highlight deep divisions over the bill’s implications for India’s Muslim community.
