"Unconstitutional, could undermine secular principles of country": CPI MP Sandosh Kumar on Waqf Bill

New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): CPI Member of Parliament, P Sandosh Kumar expressed strong opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday and argued that certain provisions in the bill are unconstitutional and could undermine the secular fabric of the nation.
"We are not viewing this bill through Hindu-Muslim lines, but there are certain provisions within it that are unconstitutional and could potentially undermine the secular principles of our country. We will oppose this bill," Sandosh Kumar told ANI.
Responding to the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) support for the bill, Kumar said, "It is not a Christian, Muslim, Hindu issue; for us, it is an issue related to secularism. They have every right to voice their opinion, but I want to emphasise that this issue is primarily about secularism and not about religious divisions. We are going to follow the principles and policies of the party we belong to."
The Opposition has been vocal in its criticism of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament soon.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of politics of appeasement, saying that their every decision is for votes.
Yadav said that the BJP has taken every decision to make their people happy and reiterated the SP's strong opposition to the bill.
Yadav further added that the BJP is introducing the Waqf amendment bill to "fix" its vote bank, which he implied is not happy because of lack of employment and other aspects.
Criticising the Waqf Amendment Bill, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday said that this bill is unconstitutional and "grave violation" of Article 14, 25, 26 and 29 of the Indian Constitution.
Owaisi said that this is not a Waqf Bill but a "Waqf Barbaad Bill." The AIMIM chief further questioned NDA allies Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan, and Jayant Chaudhary on the reasons behind their support for the Waqf Amendment Bill.
The Lok Sabha has been adjourned and is scheduled to meet again at 2.00 pm on Tuesday.
The government is slated to table the revised Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament this week, so the sources said the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the lower house will be chaired on Tuesday.
Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has hit out at leaders seeking to "misguide" people and said the Waqf law has been in existence for decades.
"Some people are saying that this Waqf Amendment Bill is unconstitutional. Waqf rules have existed since before independence. All these provisions are already in existence. If the Waqf Act has been in existence since before independence, then how can it be illegal? Innocent Muslims are being misled by saying that the government is going to snatch the properties and rights of the Muslims. The false things being spread by some people are very harmful to our society and nation," Rijiju told media persons.
Many opposition parties are opposing the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act. Earlier, Rijiju said that criticising the bill was everyone's right, but it must be substantial.
On Monday, Congress MP and party's General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh called the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, "a direct attack on Constitution," vowing to protest against the implementation of the bill, and demanding that NDA allies Telegu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) clarify their stance on the issue."
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a direct attack on the constitution and its foundation; it has been bulldozed through the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee). If they implement it, we will we will oppose it democratically," Jairam Ramesh told ANI.
Claiming that the bill was "bulldozed" through the Joint Parliamentary Committee, he said that a thorough discussion of each clause was not done in the committee.
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)