‘Unconstitutional': Opposition slams Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday led the charge against the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing the government of sowing seeds of discord by suppressing Muslims and terming the draft law unconstitutional.

"Do not disturb peace and harmony," Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Kharge said, echoing the line taken by a united INDIA bloc.

Kharge also alleged that since 2014 when the BJP-led NDA government was elected at the Centre, Rs 3,574 crore out of a total of Rs 18,274 crore allocated for minorities was returned as unspent.

Leaders of the Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, RJD and Left parties stuck together to slam the Bill as one with mala fide intentions.

In a blow to the anti-BJP bloc though, Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal, which had earlier said it would vote against the Bill, decided not to issue a whip to MPs and let them vote as per their conscience.

BJD national spokesperson Sasmit Patra said no whip had been enforced.

TMC's Sushmita Dev speaking on the Bill accused the BJP of dragging India back to the times of Partition.

Taking a dig at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma, Dev said, “The Centre must assure that people like him must stop making claims of bulldozing madrasas, they should disallow orders of displaying owners’ names in their shops.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut opposed the Bill, saying it is neither in the interest of society nor the country.

Raut remarked, “For the past two days, there has been an overwhelming display of concern for poor Muslims. This is so unusual that even I am scared — Muslims are scared, and Hindus are scared. Even Muhammad Ali Jinnah did not express such worry for Muslims,” he added.

He criticised the government's intentions, saying, “We once believed we were building a Hindu nation together. But after hearing your speeches, I feel you are creating a Hindu Pakistan.”

DMK's Tiruchi Siva termed the Bill constitutionally indefensible and morally reprehensible and said a certain community was being targeted.

“This government has ears, but it won’t listen to the Opposition's views. It has eyes but doesn’t see those suffering,” Siva said.

In Rajya Sabha the current majority mark is 119 with the effective house strength at 236.

The NDA has 123 MPs including BJP's 98.