Delhi, 3 April (H.S.): The Waqf Amendment Bill is currently under scrutiny in the Rajya Sabha as of Thursday, April 3, following its passage through the Lok Sabha after an extensive 12-hour debate. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Minority Affairs, presented the Bill, highlighting its potential to transform the lives of impoverished Muslim families.

The proceedings in the Upper House were marked by heated exchanges as representatives from the ruling party and the opposition clashed on various topics. A key point of contention emerged when Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition, raised concerns regarding the claims of Waqf landholdings and the recent ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans that surfaced after a Congress MP's electoral victory in Karnataka.

Amid the tumult, Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervened, accusing the opposition of disseminating false information concerning the Waqf Bill. He countered claims that the BJP aimed to polarize the electorate through legislative changes.

One significant confrontation arose when Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain contended that the government was misrepresenting legal recourse concerning the orders of the Waqf Tribunal. He argued that the assertion claiming no legal avenues were available against tribunal decisions was untrue, questioning the backlog of cases in the High Court and Supreme Court if such limitations truly existed.

In response, Shah stated that the current provisions did not allow for civil suits against Waqf Tribunal orders, labeling the tribunal's approach as 'discriminatory.' He clarified that the prior legislation in 2013 included no provision for civil suits, instead permitting only writ petitions in the High Court, which hold a narrower scope.

Hussain criticized the Bill, labeling it as ‘flawed and forged’ regarding references to 123 Waqf properties in Delhi. He questioned the intent behind creating confusion over these properties, which encompass mosques, dargahs, and graveyards originally allocated to the Waqf by the British. He accused the BJP of fostering division among communities and intensifying societal polarization through the Bill.

Tensions escalated further when BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agarwal entered the fray, referring to the protests during Hussain's swearing-in in Karnataka, where his supporters allegedly shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad.’ He lamented that BJP workers protesting were arrested while framing the Waqf Bill as revolutionary legislation. Agarwal described it as unprecedented reform aimed at enhancing the welfare of the Muslim community in Independent India, under the leadership of the Narendra Modi administration.

The recent session of the Rajya Sabha was marked by heated exchanges and disputes, particularly sparked by Congress MP Radha Mohan’s reference to ‘Pakistan Zindabad,’ which prompted strong reactions from the Congress party. MP Pramod Tiwari expressed his outrage, arguing that accusations against members must be substantiated with evidence and proper permission from the Chair is required for such claims to be made.

In response, Union Minister Amit Shah defended the BJP's stance by asserting that no direct accusations had been made against Congress MP Naseer Hussain. Shah clarified that the BJP MP had merely pointed out that ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans were raised when Hussain took his oath of office, stating that only a few individuals, not the majority of members, had chanted those slogans during the event.

Naseer Hussain vehemently denied the allegations, calling them entirely false and maintaining that only a journalist had reported hearing the slogans. He asserted his commitment to law and order by urging the police to investigate if such incidents actually occurred.

The day's tension escalated when Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition, confronted the Centre regarding accusations made by BJP MP Anurag Thakur the previous day in Lok Sabha. Kharge was visibly distressed by the accusations and demanded that Thakur substantiate his claims. He boldly declared that if Thakur could prove his allegations, he would resign, but if he could not, then Thakur should resign instead.

In the backdrop of these verbal battles, the Rajya Sabha was set to deliberate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, which had just passed through the Lok Sabha after an extensive 12-hour debate. Kiren Rijiju, the Minister of Minority Affairs, introduced the bill, underscoring its importance for enhancing the living conditions of impoverished Muslim families in India.

Throughout the session, a series of exchanges erupted between the treasury and opposition benches concerning topics such as Kharge’s claims related to Waqf landholdings and the purported ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans linked to Congress’s recent election success in Karnataka. Shah accused the opposition of disseminating misinformation regarding the Waqf Bill, asserting that the BJP was not attempting to polarize the electorate with its legislative amendments.

The confrontations began when Naseer Hussain challenged the government's assertion that no legal recourse existed against the decisions of the Waqf Tribunal. He argued that it was incorrect for the government to claim that individuals could not seek judicial review if dissatisfied with the Tribunal’s rulings, highlighting the existence of numerous pending cases in both the High Court and Supreme Court.

In his rebuttal, Shah stated that there is no provision allowing civil suits against Tribunal orders, which he characterized as discriminatory. This, he claimed, weakens the claims of individuals while reinforcing the standing of the Waqf.

The discord during the session reveals the larger political tensions surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill, as parties utilize the occasion not just to debate specifics of the legislation but also as a platform to challenge and critique each other’s broader political narratives and accusations of misconduct. The session's tone suggests that the political environment remains charged, with each party deeply invested in defending its reputation and credibility amid ongoing legislative processes.

In the ongoing discussion regarding the Waqf Bill, notable concerns were raised about its implications and the legislative process behind it. Union Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the 2013 Act provided no provisions for civil suits, relying instead on the limited scope of writ petitions in the High Court. Shah highlighted that this limited legal framework inadequately addresses the broader issues at hand.

Reacting to the Bill, Congress leader Naseer Hussain criticized it as 'flawed and forged,' particularly regarding the references to 123 Waqf properties in the national capital. He accused the government of creating confusion about these properties, which include mosques, dargahs, and graveyards that were originally allocated to the Waqf by the British colonial authorities. Hussain insisted that the ownership of these properties has been clear since the British passed control to the Waqf after developing Lutyens' Delhi.

Furthermore, Hussain accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of leveraging the Waqf Bill to foster divisions among communities and intensify societal polarization. This accusation was compounded by BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agarwal's intervention in the debate, during which he brought up an incident when Hussain was sworn into the Rajya Sabha in Bengaluru. Agarwal claimed that during this event, Hussain's supporters chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad,' and suggested that BJP workers faced discrimination when they protested against this.

Agarwal described the Waqf Bill as 'revolutionary,' asserting that it represents a significant legislative reform aimed at improving the lives of the Muslim community for the first time since India's independence under the Modi government. His remarks, however, sparked outrage from the Congress party, particularly when he echoed the 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan claims.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari expressed his discontent with Agarwal's allegations, arguing that accusations should be substantiated with proper documentation and that members must seek permission from the Chair before leveling such claims. In response, Shah rose to defend Agarwal, clarifying that the BJP MP did not directly accuse Hussain but merely reported that slogans were raised during the swearing-in ceremony.

Countering the allegations, Hussain argued that the claim of slogans being chanted was completely unfounded, stating that only a journalist purported to have heard them. He insisted that if any such incident did occur, he had urged the police to take action.

Earlier that day, the Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, launched a strong critique of the central government's actions, addressing allegations made by BJP MP Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha the previous day. Kharge conveyed that he felt deeply hurt by the accusations and challenged Thakur to provide proof. He asserted that should Thakur successfully substantiate his claims, Kharge would resign; conversely, if the allegations were unfounded, Thakur should resign from his position in the House.

This confrontation highlights the heightened tensions and contentious atmosphere surrounding the discourse on the Waqf Bill, with both parties fiercely defending their positions while navigating accusations and counter-accusations. The outcome of this debate could greatly influence inter-community relations and the legislative landscape regarding Waqf properties in India, reflecting broader societal dynamics as the ruling party seeks to implement reforms amid opposition scrutiny.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar