Waqf Amendment Bill passed in Lok Sabha: Stalin-led DMK to move Supreme Court

Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Thursday said it will challenge before the Supreme Court the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed by Lok Sabha with a 288-232 vote in the wee hours.

Wearing a black ribbon in protest against the passage of the Bill which he termed was against Muslims, Chief Minister M K Stalin told the Assembly that Tamil Nadu will fight against the BJP government on the issue of Waqf properties and emerge victorious in it.

“A majority of the political parties in India opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. It is condemnable that the Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha despite widespread opposition to its provisions. Though the Bill has been passed, nobody should overlook the number of votes against it,” Stalin said, recalling that the Assembly passed a resolution against the bill last week.

Stalin contended that passage of the Bill at 2 am on Thursday in Lok Sabha with help from some alliance partners despite opposition from a majority of parties is an attack on the Constitution of India. “This is an attempt to disturb communal harmony in the country. Let me tell this House that the DMK will challenge the Bill in the Supreme Court,” Stalin announced.

“The amended Act is detrimental to the religious harmony of India and will severely impact the minority Muslim community,” he said, adding Tamil Nadu will fight against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and will emerge victorious in it.

While moving a resolution against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on March 27, Stalin accused the BJP of framing policies that are aimed at deliberately excluding certain communities like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is nothing but another attempt by the Union Government to interfere in the religious administration of Muslims. The law, if passed, will give greater control for the government over Waqf properties thereby undermining their autonomy. This is against the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution,” he had said.

In his reaction, TN BJP chief K Annamalai said the announcement was a “drama” to save a portion of their minority vote bank.

“Has the TN CM not realised that it is not just Hindus but also Christians who are also the affected parties due to the previous Waqf law? Kindly don’t use the assembly for your theatrics…DMK will make this an election plank and misguide innocent Muslims in the 2026 assembly and 2029 parliament elections. DMK only knows to Deceive & Divide,” he said.