Why Waqf Amendment Bill has put Uddhav Thackeray in a quagmire

The linking of support or opposition to the bill with Hindutva has put Thackeray’s party in an uncomfortable position.

Suspense prevails over the stand the Shiv Sena (UBT) will take on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is set to be placed in the Lok Sabha today for consideration and passage. The party is in a quagmire over the issue, as supporting the bill would antagonise Muslim voters, while opposing it would dent its credentials as a Hindutvawadi organisation.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, in a social media post, taunted Uddhav Thackeray, saying he would see whether Thackeray respects the thoughts of Bal Thackeray or follows Rahul Gandhi's path of appeasement. The linking of support or opposition to the bill with Hindutva has put Thackeray’s party in an uncomfortable position.

Since the 1980s, the Shiv Sena has metamorphosed into a political party adhering to a militant Hindutva ideology. The party's anti-Muslim stance was evident during the Bhiwandi riots of 1984 and the post-Babri Masjid demolition riots of 1992-93. Bal Thackeray overtly claimed Shiv Sena's role in the demolition of the disputed mosque.

The Shiv Sena's anti-Muslim tirade toned down after Uddhav Thackeray took over the reins in 2003. Unlike his father, Uddhav seldom used expletives or intimidating language against Muslims in his public speeches. However, he maintained that the party adheres to Hindutva ideology and proudly accepted Shiv Sena’s role in the Babri mosque demolition.

In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray took the bold step of forming the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with Congress and NCP, and signed its preamble, which stated that the alliance would adhere to secular values. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when Thackeray was CM, goodwill was generated towards him as governmental relief work was carried out in Muslim localities without any discrimination on communal grounds. These positive sentiments helped Uddhav Thackeray electorally during the last Lok Sabha and assembly polls, as his party secured a good number of votes in Muslim-populated localities.

If the party supports the bill, it risks losing the support of Muslim voters, which does not seem to be a prudent idea with the BMC polls set to be held this year. In such a scenario, the party is striving to find a middle path. While speaking to the media in Delhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders stated that they are not against the bill in its entirety but want certain provisions to be removed. It remains unclear whether the party’s MPs will participate in the voting or walk out of the House.