The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for not attending the Lok Sabha during the vote on the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The BJP argued that both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi failed to represent Wayanad, a constituency with a significant Muslim population, in Parliament.
The Waqf Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha with a vote of 288-232 after a lengthy debate that lasted over 12 hours and extended past midnight on Wednesday. Priyanka Gandhi was absent from the session, while Rahul Gandhi arrived just before the vote, remained silent on the issue, and seemed to be dozing off during the late-night proceedings, which concluded after 2 a.m. on April 3, reported News18.
Priyanka's absence drew sharp criticism from Suprabhatham, a publication of the influential Muslim group Samastha Kerala Jemiyyathul Ulama. The editorial stated, "Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, seen as a figure of high hopes nationwide, skipped Parliament despite the party whip. This will leave a lasting stain."
On X, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya remarked, “Priyanka Vadra, who is a Member of Parliament from Wayanad—a Muslim-majority Lok Sabha seat in Kerala—was absent during the voting on the Waqf Amendments. What face will she show her constituents when she seeks their votes again? The seat had earlier elected Rahul Gandhi, who also did not speak on the Bill.”
Malviya also pointed out that Benny Peruvanthanam, a Christian leader and general secretary of the Idukki District Congress Committee, left the party on Friday, accusing it of sidelining Christians while favoring Muslims in the Waqf dispute. The BJP leader contended that Congress had disappointed both Muslims and Christians, despite its claims of defending them, while treating Hindus as lesser citizens.
In an earlier post on X, Malviya wrote, “Let history note: when it counted, the Gandhis and Congress deserted the Muslims, the very people they claim to champion.”
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain also criticized the Gandhis, stating, “Nobody's serious. Rahul Gandhi was dozing in Parliament, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra didn’t even show up. Her absence during the vote shows how little Congress cares. They just see Muslims as a vote bank,” he told ANI.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, which aims to revise the operations of the Waqf board and its properties, was passed by Parliament after two lengthy debates and received presidential assent the following day, officially making it law.
When the Lok Sabha approved the bill, Rahul Gandhi declared, “The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a tool to sideline Muslims and strip them of their personal laws and property rights. This assault on the Constitution by the RSS, BJP, and their partners targets Muslims now but paves the way to affect other communities later.”
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
