New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): Congress MP and Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday expressed strong disagreement on the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating the entire nation is watching how the voice of democracy is being crushed in the Lok Sabha. 
“We walked out of the House. I don’t know what is in their (government’s) mind. I hope that the Speaker will take note of all of this. The entire country is seeing how the voice of democracy is being crushed slowly in the Lok Sabha,” Gogoi told ANI.
Meanwhile, the opposition party MPs walked out of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, Gogoi said, while accusing the government of bulldozing its agenda and not listening to the opposition members.
The Congress MP stated that all opposition parties have demanded discussions of various issues, including the EPIC cards issue, Manipur’s Presidential Rule resolution, the Waqf Amendment Bill and more under rule 193.
Gogoi stated that opposition MPs had to walk out in compulsion as they were not left with any other option.
“The opposition parties have walked out in the middle of the BAC meeting in protest because the government is simply bulldozing its agenda and not listening to the views of the opposition parties. We have asked for a comprehensive discussion on the Waqf Amendment Act, our views are being listened to. We asked for a proper time to be allocated for the resolution of President’s rule in Manipur but our advice is not being listened to. We have asked for important discussions under rule 193 for voter EPIC cards and decisions to link it with Aadhar. All opposition parties have demanded this. We asked for important ministries to be taken for the discussion during Demands for Grants… that has not been taken. So, this House has completely become subservient to the Government, the whims of the policitcial masters can be seen in BAC meeting. The space has not been given to opposition leader… We had to walk out because we had no any other option… They do not want to talk on any issues….” Gogoi told reporters.
Expressing dissatisfaction, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee stated that the government has not allowed any discussion and the Parliament floor is equally important for the opposition.
Kalyan Banerjee said, “This is very sorry state of affairs that we have been compelled to walk out of the meeting. This Budget session was in two parts and from the very first part we were asking for a discussion under rule 193, especially on EPIC and other issues… If the BAC meeting starts fulfilling the agenda of the treasure bench of the government, what is the use of the meeting of BAC? We had walk out… Nothing has been allowed to discuss… Parliament floor is equally important for the opposition.”
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also criticised the Waqf Amendment Bill and said that this bill is unconstitutional and “grave violation” of Article 14, 25, 26 and 29 of the Indian Constitution.
Taking it further, Owaisi said that this is not Waqf Bill, rather it’s a “Waqf Barbaad Bill.”
The AIMIM chief further questioned NDA allies Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary the reason behind their support to Waqf Bill.
“This bill is unconstitutional. This bill is a grave violation of Article 14, Articles 25, 26 and 29. This is not Waqf Bill rather it’s a Waqf Barbaad Bill. If Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary will praise it then they are doing so for their political reasons… They are supporting it but what answer will they give to the public after 5 years? If no non-Hindu can become a member in the Hindu Endowment Board, then why are you making a non-Muslim here?…” Owaisi told reporters.
Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju hit out at leaders seeking to “misguide” people and said the Waqf law has been in existence for decades.
“Some people are saying that this Waqf Amendment Bill is unconstitutional. Waqf rules have existed since before independence. All these provisions are already in existence. If the Waqf Act has been in existence since before independence, then how can it be illegal? Innocent Muslims are being misled by saying that the government is going to snatch the properties and rights of the Muslims. The false things being spread by some people are very harmful to our society and nation,” Rijiju told media persons.
Many opposition parties are opposing the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also called the ‘Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill,’ aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. (ANI)
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