New Delhi
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi tore a copy of the Waqf Research Bill during his speech in the Lok Sabha. Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, made a token protest against the Waqf Bill citing the example of Mahatma Gandhi.Participating in the debate on the Wakf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, Owaisi cited the example of Mahatma Gandhi when he was in South Africa. He said that if you read history, you will see that he (Mahatma Gandhi) said about the laws of white South Africa, ‘My conscience does not accept it’ and he tore it up. He further said that like Gandhi, I am also tearing this law. It is unconstitutional. BJP wants to create division in this country in the name of temple and mosque. I condemn it and request you to accept the 10 amendments. Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Wakf Amendment Bill and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said during the ongoing debate in the Lok Sabha that Asaduddin Owaisi calls this bill unconstitutional, but he has done an unconstitutional act by tearing the bill… I want to ask him why did he tore the bill? Opposition parties like Trinamool Congress, DMK and Shiv Sena UBT also opposed many provisions of the bill. Gaurav Gogoi started the discussion by saying that Congress is not against reforms in Waqf, but there are many provisions in this bill which have political objectives. He raised the question that if the government will give religious certificates to Muslims, will certificates be sought from other religions as well? He termed Minority Affairs Minister Rijiju’s claims of extensive discussion in the JPC as misleading and said that the suggestions of opposition MPs were ignored and even such people came for discussion who had no knowledge of Waqf. The Congress leader accused the BJP of pretending to be sensitive towards Muslim women and children while its real motive is to destroy communal harmony. He cornered the ruling party on the issue of the Sangh Parivar not being involved in the freedom movement. Gogoi said that the BJP wants to tarnish the reputation of the community that made sacrifices along with Mangal Pandey in 1857 and participated in the Quit India Movement. Congress MP Imran Masood said that the Waqf Amendment Bill is anti-constitutional. How can the government register Waqf properties within six months when this work could not be done in the last 10 years.
