Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 faces Parliament test: Does NDA have the numbers?

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is all set to table the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, confirmed on Tuesday that the bill will be tabled post the Question Hour tomorrow, followed by an 8-hour discussion. Rijiju also stated that the duration of the debate could be extended if necessary.

Who supports the bill?

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has garnered substantial support from within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), particularly the BJP. Kiren Rijiju, during a meeting with party spokespersons, assured that the bill would benefit the Muslim community, especially those who have long been deprived of rights in managing Waqf properties. He stressed that the bill seeks to enhance transparency and digitisation in Waqf management, without interfering with the freedom of religious institutions. 

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also defended the bill, accusing the opposition of misleading the Muslim community. He argued that the bill was aimed at ensuring that all Muslims, especially the poor, benefit from Waqf properties, which have been historically controlled by a select few. 

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) also threw its weight behind the bill. The KCBC issued a statement urging Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote in favour of amending the "unconstitutional" provisions of the Waqf Act. The council highlighted the need to address illegal claims on Waqf land, specifically pointing out the situation in Munambam, where residents have been denied rightful revenue claims due to existing provisions.

Who opposes it?

On the other hand, the opposition has been vocal in its criticism of the Waqf Amendment Bill, with several prominent leaders calling it "unconstitutional." All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi called the bill a "Waqf Barbaad Bill," arguing that it violates key constitutional rights such as Articles 14, 25, 26, and 29. Owaisi also questioned why NDA allies like Nitish Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu, Chirag Paswan, and Jayant Chaudhary were supporting it.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also expressed strong opposition, accusing the BJP of attempting to interfere in the Waqf Board's affairs to gain control. Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P. Sandosh Kumar voiced concerns that the bill could undermine India's secular fabric, asserting that its provisions were unconstitutional. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, too, criticised the bill, calling it a direct attack on the Constitution and accusing the government of bulldozing it through the Joint Parliamentary Committee without thorough discussions.

Will the bill pass?

The passage of the bill largely depends on the strength of support within the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In the Lok Sabha, the NDA holds a majority with 293 MPs, including 240 BJP MPs. With the support of allied parties like JD(U), TDP, LJP, RLD, and Shiv Sena, the NDA is comfortably positioned to pass the bill, as the required majority is 272 MPs.

In the Rajya Sabha, the NDA has 123 MPs, including 98 BJP MPs. With the support of its allies, the NDA has a slight edge, but unity within the alliance will be crucial to ensure smooth passage in the Upper House, where the majority required is 119 MPs.

With the NDA’s comfortable majority in both Houses, the bill is likely to pass, but the true test will come when the bill is put to vote. The unity of the NDA alliance and the ability to address concerns raised by the opposition will be a key factor in determining whether the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will indeed become law.