Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey reacted to his controversial remarks like — "Supreme Court is responsible for inciting religious wars in the country" and "Parliament, Assemblies should be shut" — which he made while the Opposition parties move to approach the Supreme Court against the Waqf Act, saying that the influx of approximately 4,000 people from neighbouring West Bengal's Malda, Murshidabad, and Kaliachak districts into his constituency Godda prompted him to speak out on the issue.
The Lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand's Godda had slammed the Supreme Court ruling prescribing a timeline for the President to decide on pending bills. In an interview to news agency ANI, Dubey said, "During the time of the Waqf Act, around 4,000 people from Malda, Murshidabad, and Kaliachak came to my constituency because it's nearby. We had to take care of their food and shelter, providing them with three meals a day, and everything else. We have passed an Act; if you wish to render a judgment, please proceed. However, the daily chaos and claims that a stay would be granted on the Act influenced the situation. Even wealthy people would struggle to feed and shelter 4,000 people every day, that's why I spoke out."
Opposition parties opposed the Waqf Amendment Act passed by the Parliament in the budget session of Parliament and the Supreme Court is hearing petitions against the Waqf Act.
Dubey, a four-time MP, also said that he is concerned about delay in cases in courts. "In our country, people are worried because many court cases go on for 50, 60, or even 70 years. Recently, Prime Minister Modi and the Home Minister introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and made changes to the Evidence Act, setting clear timelines so that judgments are delivered within a year, more or less," he said.
Dubey said there are still cases that have been pending for decades, and the court hasn't fixed any timeline for those.
"Now, the President, who is the first citizen of India, is being told by the court to decide within three months, or it will be deemed to be approved. Where is this written in the Constitution? All of us, including the Prime Minister, Vice President, and even the Chief Justice, are second citizens compared to the President. So, how can the court dictate terms to the President?" he said.
BJP had distanced itself from Dubey's remarks pertaining to the Supreme Court. For instance, he said, "Supreme Court is responsible for inciting religious wars in the country. The Supreme Court is going beyond its limits. If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut."
In the interview, he also highlighted the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party’s electoral success and said that several sections of society that previously did not support the BJP have now started supporting due to Modi’s leadership.
The Supreme Court had in May refused to entertain a PIL that sought contempt proceedings against Dubey for his remarks.
However, it had pulled up Dubey for his "absurd" remarks and said that remarks of the parliamentarian show ignorance about the role of the constitutional courts and the duties and obligations bestowed on them under the Constitution.
Waqf Amendment Act 2025, also known as the UMEED Act, passed in the Parliament in April 2025, proposes significant changes to the governance and management of Waqf properties in India.
This legislation seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, aiming to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the administration of Waqf properties while addressing long-standing issues within the system.
Originally introduced in 2024, the bill underwent scrutiny by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
(With ANI inputs)
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