Waqf Bill in House today, Opposition says govt ‘bulldozing’ its agenda

According to sources, the Waqf Bill, with amendments recommended by a 31-member Joint Committee of Parliament, will be taken up for consideration at 12 noon on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha. Eight hours of discussion have been assigned to it by the BAC, chaired by Speaker Om Birla, after which Minorities Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is expected to reply to the debate and seek the approval of the House for its passage. The Opposition had sought discussions lasting at least 12 hours.

The BJP has issued a three-line whip for its members to be present in the House Wednesday, while the Congress has issued a similar whip for the next three days of the Session.

NDA allies such as the TDP, JD(U) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) are expected to support the Bill, though they have been urging the government to address the concerns of all the stakeholders over the proposed amendments. The TDP is also likely to propose some amendments.

Muslim bodies have been holding protests over the issue, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, which have governments led by the TDP and JD(U), respectively.

Earlier, changes suggested by the NDA parties to the Bill were approved by the Joint Committee of Parliament, and are expected to be incorporated in the legislation brought on Wednesday.

Sources said that if the discussion on the Waqf Bill is concluded in eight hours, the House may initiate a debate on presidential rule in Manipur. “Otherwise, it will be taken up on Thursday,” said a source. President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur in February and has to be ratified by both Houses of Parliament in this Session, the first since the decision.

Sources said the government cited the need to discuss the Opposition’s statutory resolution against President’s Rule in Manipur to limit the Waqf Bill debate to eight hours.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to reply to the debate on Manipur.

Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said the Opposition parties demanded a discussion on various issues, including voter I-cards, but the government was not ready. “The Opposition walked out of the BAC meeting in protest… We asked for a comprehensive discussion on the Waqf Bill, and for proper time to discuss the resolution on President’s Rule in Manipur. But our advice is not being listened to,” he told reporters outside Parliament House.

“This House has completely become subservient to the government, the whims of the political masters can be seen in the BAC meeting too,” Gogoi said.

The Trinamool Congress’s Kalyan Banerjee, who also among the Opposition MPs who walked out of the BAC meeting, along with those of the Congress, DMK and Shiv Sena (UBT), said: “It is a very sorry state of affairs that we have been compelled to walk out of the meeting… If the BAC meeting is just to fulfill the agenda of the Treasury Benches, what is its use? The Parliament floor is equally important for the Opposition.”

Congress whip Manickam Tagore said: “The Treasury Benches are not ready to hear our voices.”

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said: “Every decision of the BJP is taken with an eye on votes, and just to make their people happy… Whether it is the GST, demonetization or other decisions, they work to snatch something or the other from the people. Through the Waqf Bill they want to consolidate their vote bank because they have not given any jobs, nor doubled farmers’ income (as promised).”

Reiterating the AIMIM’s objections to the Waqf Bill, its chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi targeted NDA allies Nitish Kumar (JD-U), Chandrababu Naidu (TDP), Chirag Paswan (LJP-RV) and Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), asking them to explain the reasons behind their support to the legislation, if not political. “This Bill is a grave violation of Articles 14, 25, 26 and 29. It is not a Waqf Bill, rather a Waqf Barbaad (destruction) Bill,” Owaisi said outside the House.

Rijiju accused the Opposition of making up “excuses” to run away from a discussion. “Some people are saying this Bill is unconstitutional. Waqf rules have existed since before Independence… If the Act has been in existence since then, how can it be illegal? Innocent Muslims are being misled by saying the government is going to snatch their properties and rights.”

Seeking to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, the Bill proposes changes in the regulation of Waqf properties and settling of disputes over them. Given the concerns raised by parties, the Bill was referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament. On January 27, the Committee headed by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal cleared 14 amendments proposed by the BJP and its allies, while rejecting 44 amendments proposed by the Opposition.

The Union Cabinet cleared the fresh Bill last month.