Oppn to 'unitedly' fight Modi govt on reworked Waqf Bill in Lok Sabha, 'expose' BJP allies

New Delhi: Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc will “unitedly” fight the Narendra Modi government on the reworked Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday and seeks to “expose” BJP allies like TDP and JD(U) that project themselves as Muslim-friendly parties, sources said.

All constituents have asked their MPs to be present during voting of the contentious Bill, a new version of which is returning to Parliament after scrutiny by a Joint Parliamentary Committee, but instructed them not to disrupt proceedings.

In disarray after Congress’ successive electoral debacles in the past six months post Lok Sabha polls, it was for the first time after the Monsoon Session in August last year leaders from all constituents sat across the table. Trinamool Congress had not attended I.N.D.I.A. meetings in Parliament since the Winter Session in November-December last year.

At the meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, sources said there was an “overwhelming consensus” to oppose the Bill in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and force a vote to “expose” TDP, JD(U) and LJP (Ramvilas).

All these BJP allies have issued Whip asking its MPs to support the Bill, though it had earlier expressed reservations. Sources said Home Minister Amit Shah met JD(U) leaders Rajiv Ranjan ‘Lalan’ Singh, a Union Minister, and party Working President Sanjay Jha during the day.

Opposition sources said the leaders also decided to not project it just as a Muslim issue but a question of the Constitution, secularism and rights of minorities. Sources said Rahul told the leaders that the Bill has violated Constitutional provisions and hence it is anti-Constitution. Another leader said if it is Muslims today, then it would be others tomorrow.

The MPs chosen to speak on the issue have been asked to forcefully make their points and ensure that they do not fall for provocation.

Sources said CPI(ML)L MP Rajaram told the leaders that one should not forget the timing of the introduction of the Bill, as it coincides with the imposition of reciprocal tariff by the United States on Wednesday. He said they should highlight the issue.

However, Kerala Congress’ Francis George and Kerala Congress (Mani)’s Jose K Mani also expressed certain reservations citing the Munambom issue in Kerala against the backdrop of appeal by Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council to vote in favour of the Bill. Sources said other Opposition leaders told them that the Munambom issue is not directly linked to the Bill and that the BJP was using it as a diversionary tactic.

CPI(M) has also instructed its MPs to participate in the debate and voting as some of them headed to Madurai to attend the Party Congress starting Wednesday.

With parties like BJD, YSR Congress and BRS all set to join hands with the Opposition, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc wants to make it a show of strength even though BJP-led NDA may manage to pass the Bill.

With parties like AIMIM, ASP and YSR Congress to vote against the Bill in Lok Sabha, I.N.D.I.A. expects that the Opposition count would be 247, including 236 from the bloc while NDA could get 294, including an independent, if all votes.

In Rajya Sabha, NDA could get at least 125 votes, including six nominated MPs, and it could rise to 129 if AIADMK also joins them. The Opposition could get 107 votes, including BJD, YSR Congress, BRS and BSP.