Gaurav Gogoi questions: Who drafted Waqf (Amendment) Bill—Minority Affairs Ministry or another?

Congress MP and Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, raised serious concerns over the drafting process of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, questioning whether it was prepared by the Ministry of Minority Affairs or another ministry.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi alleged that the government’s claim of "comprehensive discussions" before introducing the bill was misleading. He pointed out that in the five meetings held by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, there was no mention of the need for a new Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

"I heard the honourable minister on the day when this bill was introduced and today as well. The day this bill was introduced, he said that there were comprehensive discussions over it. This is completely misleading. There was no mention of the need for a new Waqf (Amendment) Bill during the five meetings of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. We have seen the minutes of these meetings," Gogoi said.

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He further questioned, "I just want to ask whether this bill has been made by the Ministry of Minority Affairs or another ministry?"

Gogoi’s remarks came amid strong opposition from the Congress and other parties, who have accused the BJP-led central government of pushing the bill without proper consultations.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who defended the bill earlier in the day, dismissed the opposition’s claims and asserted that the legislation was introduced in the "interest of the country." He also accused some religious leaders and political parties of misleading the Muslim community regarding the bill.

The introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has sparked a heated debate in Parliament, with opposition leaders demanding greater transparency on its drafting and implications.