Wakf Bill: Why Sonia Gandhi expressed concern about permanent polarization
#News Bureau April 3,2025
Terming the Waqf Bill as an “open attack” on the Constitution, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has warned that it will lead to “permanent polarisation” in the country and society and reduce the Constitution to “a mere paper”. The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday night and is being discussed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Sonia Gandhi said at the party’s parliamentary party meeting on April 3, “This bill is part of the BJP’s well-planned strategy to keep society in a state of permanent polarisation. The Narendra Modi government is pushing the country into an abyss where the Constitution will remain only on paper.
Sonia Gandhi said, the Waqf Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha forcefully and in a hurry. Sonia Gandhi asked the party MPs to expose the intention of the Modi government to turn India into a surveillance state. Apart from this, Sonia Gandhi also said that the ‘One Nation, One Election Bill’ is another violation of the Constitution. She said that the party also strongly opposes this law. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has also reacted strongly to this.
This bill is a weapon to marginalise Muslims and usurp their personal laws and property rights. This attack on the Constitution by the RSS, BJP and their allies is on Muslims today, but will target other communities in the future as well.
-Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, 3 April 2025 Source: Rahul’s xHandle
Opposition parties called the bill “unconstitutional” and “anti-Muslim”. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “This bill is an attempt to weaken the Constitution, defame minority communities, divide Indian society and deprive minorities of their rights.” AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tore a copy of the bill in a symbolic protest.
The government defended the bill, saying it would bring transparency and efficiency in the management of waqf properties. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha, “This bill will protect property. ASI property, tribal land, private property and village land cannot be donated to waqf. This bill will bring transparency.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “If it was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court would have struck it down. Words like ‘constitutional’ and ‘unconstitutional’ should not be used lightly.”
Opposition parties called the bill “unconstitutional” and “anti-Muslim”. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “This bill is an attempt to weaken the Constitution, defame minority communities, divide Indian society and deprive minorities of their rights.” AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi tore a copy of the bill in a symbolic protest.
The government defended the bill, saying it would bring transparency and efficiency in the management of waqf properties. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha, “This bill will protect property. ASI property, tribal land, private property and village land cannot be donated to waqf. This bill will bring transparency.” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “If it was unconstitutional, the Supreme Court would have struck it down. Words like ‘constitutional’ and ‘unconstitutional’ should not be used lightly.”
