नवीनतम
Gogoi slams BJP-led govt over Waqf Amendment Bill
NEW DELHI [Maha Media]: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday targeted the BJP-led government over the Waqf Amendment Bill alleging that the legislation is against "the integrity of the nation" and that government is "interfering in this matter of religion".
Participating in the debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in Lok Sabha, Gogoi said the nationalism of Congress is that which is enshrined in the Constitution.
"Did the Minority Affairs Ministry make this bill, or did some other department make it? Where did this Bill come from?... Today, the condition of minorities in the country has become such that today, the government will have to give a certificate of their religion... Will they ask for a certificate from other religions whether you have completed five years or not? Why is this being asked in this bill? Why is the government interfering in this matter of religion," Gogoi said.
"Our constitution says that every citizen must receive political, social and economic justice.... freedom of expression and religion...this Bill is an attack on the fundamental structure of the constitution. This government aims to dilute the constitution through this Bill. Second, they want to defame the minority community. Third, they want to divide Indian society," he alleged.
Gogoi rejected Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju's allegations against the Congress and said he should authenticate them.
"What the minister said about the UPA government was entirely misleadinge. We demand that this be authenticated," Gogoi said.
In his remarks, Rijiju said there were some anomalies in this bill, so it was necessary to amend it.
"I had mentioned earlier that any Indian could create a Waqf, but this was not the case in 1995. In 2013, you made changes, and now we have reinstated the 1995 provision, ensuring that only someone who has practiced Islam for a minimum of five years can create a Waqf," Rijiju said.
