Date: April 1, 2025
Source:- NDTV
The INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties, has unanimously decided to vote against the Waqf Amendment Bill when it hits the Lok Sabha floor on April 2, 2025. The announcement came late Monday, March 31, from Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) leader MP NK Premachandran, who spoke to journalists after a pivotal meeting of the alliance. With the bill set to spark a fiery debate, the opposition’s stance promises a tense clash with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Premachandran was clear and confident outside Parliament. “The entire INDIA bloc stands united-we will vote against the Waqf Amendment Bill tomorrow,” he told reporters, as quoted by NDTV. This decision reflects weeks of mounting friction over the legislation, formally the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was first introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in August 2024. After its initial tabling, it was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for review amid uproar from opposition benches, a move detailed in The Indian Express coverage of the bill’s stormy journey. The JPC submitted its 655-page report to Parliament earlier this month, paving the way for tomorrow’s debate.
The Waqf Amendment Bill aims to overhaul the management of Waqf properties-land and assets dedicated to Islamic charitable purposes. The BJP argues it brings transparency, with provisions like digitizing records and empowering district collectors to settle disputes. But the INDIA bloc sees it differently. Parties like Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress have slammed the bill as an attack on Muslim autonomy, a concern echoed in The Hindu’s January 29, 2025, report on opposition dissent notes calling it “unconstitutional.” Premachandran’s coalition, which met on March 31, is now poised to challenge what they view as a power grab by the Centre.
The opposition’s resolve isn’t new. On March 31, several INDIA bloc MPs walked out of a JPC meeting, protesting what they called a rushed process, a detail confirmed by NDTV. This followed broader unrest, including nationwide demonstrations by Muslim groups like the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
The BJP, however, remains defiant. Rijiju has maintained that the bill protects Waqf properties, not seizes them, a point he reiterated last week, per NDTV. With the NDA holding a slim majority in the Lok Sabha, the bill’s passage hinges on coalition unity. Allies like Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party have faced pressure to reconsider, though their public stance remains supportive. The Hindu reported on March 7 that Congress leader Jairam Ramesh claimed even these allies were “uneasy” privately, hinting at potential cracks in the NDA’s armor.
Tomorrow’s Lok Sabha session, set for an eight-hour debate, will test both sides. The INDIA bloc’s unanimously decided push to vote against the Waqf Amendment Bill, led by voices like MP NK Premachandran, could delay or derail the legislation if dissent grows. For now, the opposition is banking on unity and public sentiment to sway the outcome, making April 2 a critical day in India’s parliamentary saga.
Citations:
NDTV. (2025, April 1). “Entire INDIA bloc has unanimously decided to vote against Waqf bill tomorrow: MP NK Premachandran.” Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/entire-india-bloc-has-unanimously-decided-to-vote-against-waqf-bill-tomorrow-mp-nk-premachandran-8063005
The Indian Express. (2025, April 1). “Waqf Bill tomorrow, a look at how it emerged as NDA-INDIA flashpoint.”
The Hindu. (2025, January 29). “Parliamentary Panel clears report on Waqf (Amendment) Bill; Opposition slams its provisions as ‘unconstitutional.'”
The Hindu. (2025, March 7). “Congress will follow ‘all democratic routes’ to oppose Waqf bill, coordinate with INDIA allies: Jairam Ramesh.”
