New Delhi, 8 Aug

The Opposition on Thursday strongly protested against the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, with several INDIA bloc MPs calling it an attack on the Constitution and aimed at targeting Muslims. They also urged the government to withdraw the bill.

Soon after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought leave to introduce the bill, Congress MP KC Venugopal -- who had submitted notice to oppose its introduction -- accused the government of violating freedom of religion and attacking the federal system through it. "This is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution," Venugopal said.

He said people taught the BJP a lesson for its divisive politics but it was continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Haryana and Maharashtra. "It is a direct attack on freedom of religion … Next you will go for Christians, then Jains," he said. The people of India will not buy this kind of divisive politics now, Venugopal asserted.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the bill was being introduced to appease the BJP's hardcore supporters. "What is the point of including non-Muslims in Waqf boards when this is not done in other religious bodies?" Yadav asked. "The truth is that the BJP has brought this bill to appease its hardcore supporters," the Kannauj MP said.

Samajawadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi said the bill was against freedom of religion. He said appointing non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and other such bodies was violative of the rights of Muslims.

Opposing its introduction, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sudip Bandhopadhyay said the bill was divisive, anti-constitutional and anti-federalism. "This is against the Constitution, a religious minority and federalism. It shuns justice in every possible way," DMK MP Kanimozhi said. "It is a direct violation of Article 30, which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group…," she said.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) - Sharadchandra Pawar MP Supriya Sule said her party opposed the bill as it was against a particular minority community. "Look at what is happening in Bangladesh, there is so much pain … It is the moral duty of a country to protect minorities," Sule said. "The government should clarify the intent and the timing of the bill. We object, withdraw this bill … Let's discuss it and then bring a bill that is fair and just," she added.

The Indian Union Muslim League's (IUML) ET Mohammed Basheer said the bill was violative of articles 14, 15, 25 26 and 30 of the Constitution. He alleged it was part of the government's "dirty agenda" and called the bill divisive. If this bill is passed, the Waqf system will collapse, he said. He also claimed that the bill would encourage encroachment on Waqf land. "Your intention is to communalise, put Hindus and Muslims in compartments … We will not let this happen," Basheer said.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chairperson Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the House did not have the competence to make the amendments. "It is a grave attack on the basic structure of the Constituion as it violates the principle of judicial independence and separation of powers," he said. "You are enemies of Muslims and this bill is evidence of that," Owaisi said.