New Delhi: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday fiercely opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, calling it an “attack on the religious faith and practices of Muslims.”
In a symbolic act of protest, he ripped a copy of the bill, drawing parallels to Mahatma Gandhi’s resistance against unjust laws. He added that government has declared war on Muslims.
During the debate, Owaisi asserted that the bill “undermines the rights of the Muslim community”. Raising constitutional concerns, he pointed to Article 14, which ensures equal protection under the law. He argued that the legislation would impose restrictions on Muslims regarding waqf properties, while allowing encroachers to claim ownership overnight.
Additionally, he criticised the provision allowing non-Muslims to administer waqf properties, calling it a clear violation of Article 14.
Owaisi also questioned the need for the bill, recalling Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurances that the government would not interfere with Muslim religious affairs. “If that promise was true, why introduce this legislation at all? A non-statutory body could have handled these matters instead,” he remarked.
Further accusing the bill of discriminating against Muslims, the Hyderabad MP pointed out that Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists retain control over their religious institutions, whereas Muslims are being deprived of similar rights. “This is a blatant violation of Article 26,” he stated.
