“Dilute, Defame, Divide, Disenfranchise”: Congress’ ‘4D’ Assault On Waqf Invoice
New Delhi:
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a fierce counterattack Wednesday – after Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf Modification Invoice – accusing the BJP-led authorities of attempting to “defame (and) disenfranchise minorities” and staging an “4D assault on the Structure”.
Mr Gogoi additionally questioned the federal government over a contentious provision – that donations can solely be made by a Muslim who has been working towards his/her religion for a minimum of 5 years. It’s a unhappy scenario, the Congress chief mentioned, when the federal government takes it on itself to challenge ‘non secular certificates’.
“At the moment the situation of minorities has develop into such the federal government will give a ‘certificates ‘of their faith. Will they ask for certificates from different religions additionally… whether or not they have accomplished 5 years? Why is that this being requested of Muslims? Why is the federal government interfering in faith?”
In his prolonged rebuttal to Mr Rijiju, the Assam chief started by accusing the Union Minister of constructing deceptive statements, which earned him a reprimand from Speaker Om Birla.
“This invoice is an assault on the Structure…” he started, firing a ‘4D’ assault on the BJP. “The goal is to dilute the Structure, defame and disenfranchise minorities… divide Indian society.”
Mr Gogoi additionally identified the Minority Affairs Ministry didn’t point out this invoice in 4 conferences of its parliamentary committee in 2023, a 12 months earlier than the amendments had been abruptly tabled.
#WATCH | Deputy Chief of Congress in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, speaks on the Waqf Modification Invoice
He says, “Did the Minority Affairs Ministry make this invoice, or did another division make it? The place did this Invoice come from?… At the moment, the situation of minorities within the nation… pic.twitter.com/QJPNnwcpyI
— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2025
This speak of “reform” of the Waqf legal guidelines – as Mr Rijiju had pressured in his speech – is a diversion to assist the BJP dilute the election course of and destroy communal concord, Mr Gogoi continued.
“… in BJP-ruled states Muslims weren’t allowed to supply Eid prayers (on Monday),” he claimed, accusing the federal government of constructing a smokescreen of Waqf adjustments to “vilify minorities”.
The Congress chief additionally ripped into the functioning of the joint parliamentary committee that had been tasked, final 12 months, with reviewing the proposed adjustments to the Waqf legal guidelines.
The committee – led by a BJP MP who allegedly routinely ignored opposition members’ views – held a number of conferences over six months. Finally 66 adjustments had been proposed, of which the opposition’s 44 had been rejected and the 23 from the BJP and allied events had been accepted.
14 of these 23 adjustments had been accepted by the federal government in February.
Opposition MPs had been livid over their ideas being discarded and protested additional after their dissent notes had been excluded from the ultimate report. These notes had been later reinstated.
“I’ve by no means seen a JPC like this earlier than,” Mr Gogoi mentioned, stating the committee didn’t maintain clause-by-clause discussions and that the opposition’s inputs was ignored. “Individuals with no connection to the Waqf boards had been known as to talk,” he mentioned, underlining a frequent criticism.
Waqf Modification Invoice Timeline
The Waqf Modification Invoice was first tabled within the Lok Sabha in August final 12 months amid livid protests from the opposition, which slammed the proposed regulation as “draconian”. A day later it was despatched to the committee, which filed its report in February after opposition MPs mentioned their views had been ignored.
READ | Opposition MPs In Waqf Home Panel Say Their Recommendations Ignored
The BJP refuted that claims; panel member and Lok Sabha MP Aparajita Sarangi mentioned Mr Pal “tried to listen to all people out and gave enough time for everyone to maneuver amendments…”
The JPC held practically three dozen hearings in six months however lots of these led to chaos, and a minimum of one in bodily violence after Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee smashed a glass bottle on the desk.
Finally 66 adjustments had been proposed, of which all 44 from the opposition had been rejected whereas the 23 from BJP and allied events had been accepted. After a vote 14 of the 23 had been cleared.
READ | Cupboard OKs 14 Waqf Invoice Modifications By Home Panel Amid Row Over ‘Bias’
The elimination of an annexure with dissent notes from the opposition triggered one other row. The centre mentioned the Chair had the discretion however, after talks, mentioned the notes can be included.
The unique draft of the Waqf Modification Invoice had proposed 44 adjustments.
NDTV Explains | Guidelines On 2 Non-Muslim Members Amongst 14 Waqf Modifications
These included nominating non-Muslim and (a minimum of two) girls members to every Waqf board, in addition to a Union Minister, three MPs and individuals of ‘nationwide reputation’. There was additionally a proposal to restrict donations from Muslims working towards their faith for a minimum of 5 years.
With enter from companies
NDTV is now accessible on WhatsApp channels. Click on on the hyperlink to get all the newest updates from NDTV in your chat.
