Defame, dilute, divide, disenfranchise: Congress' 4-D counter to Kiren Rijiju's Waqf bill push in Parliament

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi

Partaking in the discussion on Waqf Amendment Bill, Congress MP, Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday accused the Union government of attempting to "dilute the Constitution" through the Waqf Amendment Bill.

"This bill aims to dilute the Constitution, defame minority communities, divide Indian society, and disenfranchise minorities," the Congress leader claimed, opening up the Opposition's counter to the Waqf Amendment Bill, tabled in the Lok Sabha earlier today by Minority Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju.

Gogoi, further accused the BJP-led government of trying to "defame (and) disenfranchise minorities" and staging an "4D assault on the Constitution".

The Jorhat MP also questioned the government over a contentious provision - that donations can only be made by a Muslim who has been practicing his/her faith for at least five years. It is a sad situation, the Congress leader said, when the government takes it on itself to issue 'religious certificates'.

The Congress leader also ripped into the functioning of the joint parliamentary committee that had been tasked, last year, with reviewing the proposed changes to the Waqf laws.

Gogoi, debating against the Waqf Amendment Bill, warned that the government will target other minorities in the future as well. "Today, they are targeting the land of one community; Tomorrow, they will target another," he warned.

Contesting Rijiju's claims, Gogoi, pointing at an amendment where a person can declare a property as Waqf only if he practices Islam for at least five years, said, "Will they ask for a certificate from other religions whether you have completed five years or not? Why is this being asked in this bill? Why is the government interfering in this matter of religion."

Earlier, Rijiju, reading from the Constitution, said that the Narendra Modi government is not interfering with anyone's freedom to "profess, practice, and propagate religion" as mentioned in Article 25(1) of the Indian Constitution.