Tensions Rise in Rajya Sabha as Waqf Bill Sparks Heated Debate

New Delhi, April 3 (NationPress) The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is undergoing a pivotal assessment in the Rajya Sabha today, just a day after its passage through the Lok Sabha following an extensive 12-hour discussion. The Minister of Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, presented the Bill, highlighting its importance in transforming the lives of underprivileged Muslim families.

The Upper House experienced intense verbal clashes as members from both the treasury and opposition benches engaged in disputes over various topics, including the allegations made by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge regarding Waqf landholdings and the ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ chants that surfaced following a Congress MP's electoral victory in Karnataka.

The uproar prompted interventions from Home Minister Amit Shah, who accused the opposition of disseminating misleading information about the Waqf Bill, while also countering claims that the BJP was aiming to polarize voters through amendments to the legislation.

The initial confrontation arose when Syed Naseer Hussain, a Congress MP from Karnataka, charged the Centre with making false assertions about the absence of legal recourse against the Waqf Tribunal's decisions.

“They claim that under the current Act, individuals cannot approach the court if dissatisfied with the Tribunal's ruling. This is entirely untrue. If that were the case, why are there so many unresolved cases in the High Court and Supreme Court?” questioned the Congress representative.

Home Minister Amit Shah countered this statement, asserting that no civil suit could be filed against the Waqf Tribunal's orders, which he labeled as ‘discriminatory’ since it undermines the claimants' rights and reinforces the Waqf's assertions.

“The 2013 Act did not allow for a civil suit, which has a broader scope. The only option was a writ petition in the High Court, which has a very limited scope,” HM Shah clarified.

Naseer Hussain, who received multiple extensions from the Chair on behalf of Congress, continued his assault on the Centre, denouncing what he described as ‘flawed and fabricated’ references to 123 Waqf properties in the capital.

“Are you attempting to render us second-class citizens? Confusion is being sown regarding 123 properties, which include mosques, dargahs, and graveyards, originally allocated to the Waqf by the British. Ownership uncertainty is being created, but the reality is that the British handed these properties over to the Waqf after establishing Lutyens’ Delhi,” he stated.

He further accused the BJP of leveraging the Waqf Bill as a tool to create division among communities and escalate polarization.

The subsequent altercation occurred when BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agarwal joined the Waqf discussion, claiming, “When Syed Nasser Hussain was sworn in to the Rajya Sabha in Bengaluru, I was present in Karnataka. His followers shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. When BJP supporters protested, they were arrested.”

He characterized the Waqf Bill as ‘revolutionary,’ asserting that for the first time in Independent India, this reformative legislation has been introduced under the Narendra Modi administration to enhance the lives of the Muslim community.

He further emphasized the percentage of Muslims benefiting from various welfare initiatives introduced by the Modi government, such as PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, and free ration schemes.

However, Radha Mohan’s remarks regarding ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ provoked outrage among Congress members.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari raised objections, insisting that no member should make accusations against another without providing proper documentation and evidence, and emphasized the need for prior permission from the Chair.

Home Minister Amit Shah stood to refute Pramod Tiwari’s claims, stating that the BJP MP did not level any accusations against Naseer Hussain.

HM Shah clarified that the BJP MP merely noted that ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans were chanted during Naseer Hussain’s swearing-in.

“It was some individuals, not the Rajya Sabha member, who shouted those slogans during the swearing-in,” HM Shah defended, quoting Radha Mohan Das.

Naseer Hussain contested these claims, labeling them as entirely false.

He remarked that only a journalist claimed to have heard these slogans, and he urged the police to take action if such an incident occurred.

Earlier, at the commencement of the Waqf debate, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the Centre vehemently, expressing strong discontent with allegations made against him by BJP MP Anurag Thakur in the Lok Sabha the previous day.

Kharge expressed that he was profoundly hurt by the accusations and stated, “The BJP MP must substantiate his claims. If he can, I will resign. But if he fails to do so, he should resign from the House.”