As Opposition raises tariffs, BJP demands Sonia apology for Waqf Bill ‘bulldozed’ remark

Congress MPs Manish Tewari, Gaurav Gogoi and Manickam Tagore had given adjournment notices on the issue. Tewari also flagged issue of “deteriorating” US-India relations in his notice.

When the Chair did not allow it, Congress MPs came to the Well of the House and shouted slogans against PM Narendra Modi. The Treasury benches hit back and protested against Sonia Gandhi’s remark that the Bill had been “bulldozed” through Parliament, and demanded an apology from her.

The House was adjourned within four minutes until 12 noon. When the House sat again, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the House that by discussing Waqf Bill for over 17 hours, RS had achieved a new milestone and set a new record, breaking the earlier record of 16-hour debate on the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

“Some MPs came to me and said that a member of the other House, despite so much hard work, has alleged that the Bill was bulldozed through without discussion. I request you to give an appropriate ruling in this regard,” Rijiju said.

To this, Speaker Om Birla said, “One Congress leader, who was earlier a member of this House and is currently a member of the other House, has said in Parliamentary premises that the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament by force. The House debated the Bill for 13 hours and 53 minutes in which all parties kept their views. Three times voting took place on it… So it is unfortunate that an MP has raised questions on the House. It is not right.”

At the CPP meeting Thursday, Gandhi had said the Bill was a “brazen assault on the Constitution” and it was part of the ruling BJP’s “deliberate strategy” to keep the society in a state of permanent polarisation.

“The Bill was, in effect, bulldozed through… ” she had said.

Meanwhile, RS was adjourned sine die after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar highlighted that the House “etched its name in the annals of legislative history with an unprecedented sitting from 11 am on that day until 4.02 am the following day, that is this day. The longest in its history”. He said this sends a great message to the people and enhances the belief in this great institution.

“The House passed the transformative Waqf Amendment Bill bringing transparency and accountability to Waqf property management while modernising legacy systems and upholding principles of equity and justice,” he said.