Congress slams govt over Waqf Bill, calls it a bid to defame, disenfranchise minority community

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday attacked the government saying that the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill reveals its agenda to “dilute the Constitution, defame and disenfranchise the minority community and create division in the country.

Initiating the discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as Reported by Joint Committee and The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024’ in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “In 2023, there were five meeting of Minority Affairs Ministry but never was there any discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill. I even doubt whether this Bill has been brought by the Minority Affairs Ministry or some other department”.

He said the situation of minorities in the country has reached a point where the government now asks them to prove their religion.

He asked whether similar proof will be demanded from people of other religions to verify if they have completed five years? Why is this requirement included in the bill? Why is the government intruding into religious matters?

Accusing the government of spreading confusion in the country, Gogoi said, "They want to spread confusion that the present Act is against women and women have no role. But all these provisions are already there in the law, including protecting widows or giving more assistance to women.”

He also accused the government of reducing the revenue from 7 percent to 5 percent and suggested that it be increased to 11 percent.