Updated: April 2, 2025 2:34 PM IST 
New Delhi: The stage is set for a stormy session of parliament as the Modi government will seek the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. This decision comes amid the resistance from opposition parties and Muslim bodies like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). The bill is likely to be presented to the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The two Houses have been allocated eight hours each to debate the proposed law.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal (United), Shiv Sena and LJP (Ram Vilas) — the four biggest constituents of the NDA after the BJP — issued whips to their MPs asking them to support the government stand. The political heat is unlikely to have any bearing on the final outcome as the numbers heavily favour the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Lok Sabha. The NDA has 293 MPs in the Lower House with a current strength of 542, and the BJP has often been successful in pulling the support of independent members and parties.
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The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha today, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav strongly opposed the bill, questioning its fairness and accusing the BJP of attempting to privatize Waqf land.
“Our party will oppose it. What could be a bigger injustice than disregarding the voices of those directly affected by this bill?” Yadav stated.
Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi reaches Lok Sabha
The INDIA bloc parties discussed their strategy at the meeting attended by a number of senior leaders including Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal, Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav, NCP’s Supriya Sule, TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee and AAP’s Sanjay Singh.
AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi, a sharp critic of the bill, told reporters that he will put forth his view during the debate to show how “unconstitutional” it is. This bill is aimed at curbing the religious freedom of Muslims, he alleged, adding that people will teach BJP’s allies like TDP and JD(U) a lesson.
Minorities and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told reporters that the Lok Sabha’s business advisory committee (BAC), which includes leaders from all major parties, chaired by Speaker Om Birla agreed on an eight-hour debate, which could be extended after taking the sense of the House.
“All the Opposition parties are united and shall work together on the floor of the Parliament to defeat the unconstitutional and divisive agenda of the Modi Govt on the Waqf Amendment Bill,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.
The opposition INDIA bloc also presented a united face on Wednesday as its parties discussed their joint strategy to oppose the bill at a meeting in the Parliament House.
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