"Why did they support Waqf Amendment Bill?" Congress Bihar President asks JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas)

New Delhi [India], April 5 (ANI): Congress Bihar President Rajesh Kumar on Friday attacked the NDA allies JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), and Hindustani Awam Morcha over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 and asked why they supported the Bill in the House.
"The way the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed and they (JD(U)) always kept on giving proof of being secular in Bihar...LJP (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha and Janata Dal (United) should explain whether they are secular or not. Why did they support the Waqf Amendment Bill?" Kumar told ANI.
Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai said this is a bill brought in haste to mislead people and the society.
"This government only misleads people rather than talking about real issues," Ajay Rai said.
Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre said that the BJP-led central government is targeting a particular community and misusing its majority.
"The BJP-led central government is targeting a particular community and misusing its majority...We always talk about unity in diversity and it is our responsibility to take everyone along...Have the leaders whom they worship ever gone to jail and fought for the freedom of the nation?" Khandre told ANI.
Rajya Sabha sat beyond Thursday midnight to pass the legislation. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, "Ayes 128 and Noes 95, Absent zero. The Bill is passed." Lok Sabha, which took up discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday, passed it past midnight after a marathon debate with 288 MPs voted in favour of the Bill while 232 against it.
The government introduced the revised bill after incorporating the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which examined the legislation introduced in August last year. The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995 and improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India.
The bill aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records. (ANI)