New Delhi, April 2, 2025 – The Opposition INDIA bloc presented a united front on Tuesday as its leaders strategized to oppose the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, set to be taken up for discussion and passage in the Lok Sabha.
In a significant show of unity, opposition parties convened a meeting at the Parliament House to deliberate on their approach against the bill. With tensions mounting, the bloc prepared for a parliamentary showdown over the proposed legislation.
Key leaders from the opposition alliance, including Congress stalwarts Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and KC Venugopal, were present at the meeting. Also in attendance were Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, NCP leader Supriya Sule, TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee, and AAP’s Sanjay Singh. DMK leaders T R Baalu, Tiruchi Siva, and Kanimozhi, alongside RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha, CPI-M’s John Brittas, CPI’s Sandosh Kumar P, RSP’s N K Premchandran, and MDMK’s Vaiko, also participated.
Following the meeting, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to social media platform X, declaring, “All the Opposition parties are united and shall work together on the floor of Parliament to defeat the unconstitutional and divisive agenda of the Modi government on the Waqf Amendment Bill.”
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi echoed the sentiment on Facebook, stating that the opposition engaged in detailed discussions on the bill ahead of its parliamentary debate.
Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal asserted the necessity of opposing the bill, calling it “targeted legislation” that contradicts the constitutional values of the country. “This is a clear-cut violation of the Constitution. People who believe in the Constitution will definitely oppose it,” he said.
The opposition also raised concerns about the bill’s impact on religious minorities. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused the BJP of targeting minority communities, stating, “They are trying to oppose every religion which is in the minority. We, the INDIA Bloc, will oppose it tomorrow with all our strength because it is anti-Constitution.”
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee criticized the BJP for allegedly stifling discussion. “We want to discuss the matter on the floor of Parliament. We want to participate in the voting, but the BJP will not allow us to discuss,” he said.
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha warned that if the BJP-led government attempted to “bulldoze” the opposition, it would face resistance similar to that seen during the farmers' protests. “They bulldozed us and had to withdraw the farm bills. The same thing will happen to this bill. The BJP wants to alienate the Muslim community in a targeted manner,” Jha asserted.
NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule emphasized the importance of democratic discourse. “In a strong democracy, the country is run by the Constitution. We will participate in the discussion tomorrow,” she said.
DMK MP Kanimozhi reaffirmed the opposition’s commitment to secularism and minority rights. “The INDIA alliance stands as one, and we will be expressing our opinion as one. We will stand together to protect the Constitution,” she declared.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has sparked controversy, particularly in Kerala, where a dispute over approximately 400 acres of land in Ernakulam district between the state’s waqf board and land occupants has intensified concerns over its implications.
With opposition leaders vowing to fight the bill, a heated debate is expected when it comes up for discussion in Parliament.
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