North India Statesman
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Today the Modi government is going to introduce the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. The game of number force in the House seems that the government will pass it. However, the opposition is claiming to fail it on the strength of its unity. The opposition wants to prevent it from passing. While the government has made complete preparations for this. It has also received support from NDA colleagues like JDU-TDP. Which had a different stand on other issues earlier. Now the question is what is this Waqf Bill and why there is so much uproar on it, who is in favor of it and who is against it? Learn in 10 simple points.
What is Waqf Bill?
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, the Waqf Act 1995 is a amendment bill. The central government will present it in the Lok Sabha today. This will be discussed and efforts will be made to pass it. Its purpose is to tighten the rules for management of Waqf properties, transparency and prevention of misuse.
What are the changes in the Waqf Bill?
The Bill includes provisions to include non-Muslim and women members in the Waqf Board, give the collector the right to survey the assets and challenge the Waqf Tribunal’s decision in the High Court.
Why is there a ruckus on the Waqf Bill?
Opposition and Muslim organizations consider it an attack on religious freedom. He claims that this bill will weaken the Waqf properties and increase government intervention. The All India Muslim Personal Board has appealed to the opposition and NDA colleagues to oppose the bill.
Muslim board argument
The All India Muslim Personal Board argues that this Waqf Board Bill is not only discriminatory but also violates the provisions of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 25 and 26 of the Constitution.
Government’s argument in favor of Waqf Bill
It is that the BJP -led NDA government argues that this bill will bring transparency in Waqf properties, will stop misuse and will benefit Muslim women and poor.
Modi government united:
The entire Modi government is united to pass this bill. Bihar NDA has also announced support to this bill. BJP and NDA allies like JDU and TDP are in support of the bill.
The opposition led by the Congress is against the bill, which has both side and opposition. The opposition even called a meeting and vowed to vote against it in the Lok Sabha. Congress, RJD, TMC, DMK, AIMIM, SP and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) are opposing it.
How many NDA MPs are in Lok Sabha?
The NDA has a majority of 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha. The opposition party India Block has 233 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
The Waqf Bill will be introduced in the House today. It will be introduced in the Lok Sabha today i.e. on 2 April. According to the number force, the path is easy for the Modi government. This can be passed as the NDA has a majority. But the situation with 115 MPs in the Rajya Sabha is a bit critical.
Eight hours time has been allotted to discuss this bill. After the BJP, the NDA’s four largest ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), JDU, Shiv Sena (Shinde Gut) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) issued a whip asking their MPs to support the government party. On the other hand, the opposition has also issued a whip to its MPs.
