Controversy Surrounds Waqf Bill: Political Leaders Clash Over Amendments

Political tensions rise as Samajwadi Party and Congress criticize BJP's proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. The bill introduces reforms to address issues in Waqf administration, but opposition voices claim it undermines community rights and disrupts social harmony. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh maintains a neutral stance, awaiting further developments.

Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad has publicly criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, accusing the ruling party of lacking concrete policies to address key national issues. Prasad alleges that the BJP's efforts to divert attention from matters like the Manipur crisis weaken national unity by propagating baseless claims.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has opted for a cautious 'wait-and-watch' approach. Hosabale expressed approval of the government's establishment of a commission to oversee Waqf affairs, indicating optimism about the progress. However, he acknowledged the contentious nature of the ongoing debate surrounding the bill's potential impact on the Muslim community.

Adding fuel to the fire, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of undermining social cohesion and systematically targeting minority communities through what he terms 'false propaganda'. Ramesh critiques the bill's removal of judicially upheld rights related to Waqf administration, describing it as an erosion of community autonomy, in contrast to the bill's purported goals of introducing transparency and combating corruption.

(With inputs from agencies.)