Wed Apr 02 08:52:52 UTC 2025: ## Congress Slams Waqf Amendment Bill as “Assault on Constitution”
**New Delhi, April 2, 2025** – Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing the BJP-led government of attempting to defame and disenfranchise Muslim minorities. Gogoi described the bill as a “4D assault” on the Constitution, alleging it aims to dilute the Constitution, defame minorities, disenfranchise them, and divide Indian society.
Gogoi specifically criticized a provision requiring Muslim donors to have practiced their faith for at least five years to be eligible for donations to Waqf properties. He questioned the government’s authority to issue “religious certificates,” demanding to know why such stipulations are not applied to other religions. He further highlighted the BJP’s lack of Muslim representation in Parliament, asking, “How many Muslim MPs do you have?”
The Congress leader also pointed out the Minority Affairs Ministry’s failure to mention the bill in four parliamentary committee meetings in 2023 before its sudden tabling. He claimed the bill’s purported aim of reforming Waqf laws is a smokescreen to hinder the election process and damage communal harmony, citing instances of restrictions on Eid prayers in BJP-ruled states.
Gogoi further denounced the functioning of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that reviewed the bill, alleging bias and the systematic rejection of opposition amendments. He stated that the JPC, chaired by a BJP MP, ignored opposition members’ views, leading to the rejection of 44 opposition amendments while accepting 23 from the BJP and its allies. Only 14 of the BJP’s proposed amendments were ultimately approved by the government. Gogoi described the JPC process as unprecedented, citing the lack of clause-by-clause discussions and the inclusion of individuals with no connection to Waqf boards.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, initially tabled in August 2024, has faced intense opposition since its inception. While the BJP maintains that the JPC considered all viewpoints, the controversy surrounding the bill’s passage and the JPC’s proceedings continues to fuel political tensions.
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