INDIA bloc to unanimously oppose Waqf Amendment Bill: KC Venugopal

KC Venugopal

Hours before the Centre is scheduled to table the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said the INDIA block has unanimously decided unanimously to oppose the bill.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have issued three-line whips to their Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs), mandating their presence in the House on April 2, 2025. The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is pushing for the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, setting the stage for an intense political confrontation with the opposition-led INDIA block.

Another major partner of INDIA grouping, Samajwadi Party declared: "We will stand united tomorrow and participate in discussions. We will support the amendments which will come from the opposition and call for division and voting..."

Elaborating on how the Opposition plans to oppose the bill, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said: "In the introduction stage itself, the INDIA alliance and all like-minded parties had a clear-cut stand on it. This bill is a targeted legislation and is fundamentally against the Constitutional provisions. We are going to oppose this bill... This is what has been decided unanimously by the INDIA alliance parties. We request other like-minded parties also to vote against this bill..."

Despite opposition protests, the Bill is expected to passed comfortably in the Lower House as the NDA holds a clear majority in the Lok Sabha with 293 MPs out of 542. The BJP has also successfully garnered support from independent members and smaller parties, strengthening its position.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has previously questioned the necessity of issuing whips, arguing that they restrict legislators’ freedom. However, the Supreme Court has upheld the binding nature of whips, emphasising that lawmakers must adhere to their party’s stance in critical votes.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August. The Bill, which proposes 40 amendments to the provisions of the Waqf Act, has suggested modifications such as ensuring representation for Muslim women and non-Muslims in the Waqf boards. It also proposes sweeping changes in the regulation and governance of India’s waqf boards.