'Black day for democracy': AIUDF MLA slams BJP over Waqf Amendment Bill

The passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, particularly from the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). 

 

AIUDF MLA and Party General Secretary Rafiqul Islam has condemned the legislation in strong terms, calling it "a black day for democracy."

 

"BJP, due to its numbers in the House, forcefully passed that bill," the Assam Legislative Assembly member said. "Their main agenda was to seize the Waqf land from the hands of Muslims."

 

The contentious bill cleared the lower house early Thursday after a marathon 12-hour debate, with 288 votes supporting the measure against 232 opposing it. All amendments proposed by opposition members were rejected through voice votes.

 

Islam alleged that the bill fulfills a long-standing agenda of Hindu nationalist organisations. "The agenda of the BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad was long pending. We have always been against it," he stated.

 

The AIUDF leader highlighted what he described as a discriminatory aspect of the new legislation. "In similar endowment acts of Hindus and Sikhs, people from other religions are not allowed. But now, in the Muslim endowment act, a non-Muslim will interfere."

 

"It was an open conspiracy for the BJP to snatch away the lands of Muslims in which the BJP succeeded," Islam added, while expressing hope for judicial intervention. "We hope that we will get justice from the Supreme Court."

 

During the debate, Union Minorities Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the bill, claiming it would benefit minorities and asserting that India remains safe for all minority communities.