"Opposition has nothing to do except protest": Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Waqf Bill

New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): Union Minister Suresh Gopi slammed the opposition on Tuesday over the disapproval and protest over the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating that they have nothing to do other than protest.
"The opposition has nothing to do except protest. We will do everything that benefits the country and the citizens," Gopi said amid the heightened political debate over the proposed legislation.
Meanwhile, Congress MP K Suresh commented on the party's stance, saying that leadership would inform about the party's strategy as well as the official stand on the matter.

He added that the discussions on the Waqf Amendment Bill, including its timeline and allotted time, would take place during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting.
"The strategy of the Congress Party will be informed by our party's leadership and Media Chairman Jairam Ramesh. They will give our official stand... In the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, discussions will be held on the Waqf Amendment Bill, when it will come, and how much time will be allotted," Suresh said.
Earlier today, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "interfering" in everything to gain control.
"We are against the Waqf Board Bill because the BJP wants to interfere in everything. They want control everywhere," Yadav said.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said "This bill is unconstitutional. This bill is a violation of Article 14, Articles 25, 26 and 29. If Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary will praise it then they are doing so for their political reasons... They are supporting it but what answer will they give to the public after 5 years? If no non-Hindu can become a member in the Hindu Endowment Board, then why are you making a non-Muslim here?..."
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also called the "Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill", aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. (ANI)