Congress Leaders Strategize Opposition to Waqf Amendment Bill

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday chaired a meeting with party MPs to discuss the Congress Party’s stance on the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. The bill, set to be tabled in Parliament, has faced strong opposition from the INDIA bloc and various leaders within the Congress.

The meeting was attended by several key figures, including LoP in the Rajya Sabha and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, and senior MPs such as Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, and K Suresh. The discussion revolved around formulating a strategy to firmly oppose the proposed amendments.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram criticized the government’s approach, stating, “This is a matter of faith and religious practice. Waqf properties are donated voluntarily for religious purposes, and the government must respect these sensitivities. Instead of using its majority to push the bill through, it should engage in discussions and consider the implications. Many misunderstand waqf land ownership, assuming waqf authorities can claim any land, which is not the case.”

Meanwhile, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi staged a protest at Makar Dwar, wearing a black kurta and holding a placard that read, “Reject Waqf Bill.” His demonstration was a direct challenge to the government’s move to introduce the bill in Parliament.

Congress MP K Suresh reaffirmed the INDIA bloc’s opposition, stating, “The entire opposition is against this bill. Our members in the Joint Parliamentary Committee have also decided to reject it. Yesterday, INDIA bloc leaders unanimously resolved to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill.”

Adding to the criticism, Congress MP Khaleequr Rahman accused the Union government of acting in an unconstitutional manner. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also voiced his disapproval, describing the amendments as “dictatorial and unconstitutional.”

“Our party has been against this bill from the beginning. The amendments are authoritarian and unconstitutional. The government may push it through due to its majority, but we want a debate so that the nation understands the implications,” Yadav said.

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With mounting opposition, the fate of the Waqf Amendment Bill remains uncertain as parliamentary discussions unfold.