Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi reiterated that the INDIA bloc would oppose the bill, calling it an attack on the Constitution’s basic structure.Launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after the bill was tabled, Gogoi accused the government of attempting to “defame and disenfranchise minorities” and staging what he described as a “4D assault on the Constitution” – diluting the Constitution, defaming minorities, disenfranchising them, and dividing Indian society.He accused the government of attempting to dilute Waqf provisions, disenfranchise minorities, and divide Indian society. Initiating the debate, Gogoi also accused the government of misleading Parliament by referencing past discussions on the matter.Hitting back, former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad defended the bill, arguing that numerous Waqf properties were being looted and misused. He insisted that the government had the authority to regulate Waqf matters and claimed that Gogoi failed to present a complete picture of constitutional provisions on the subject.AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also spoke out against the Waqf Bill. During the debate Owaisi staged a symbolic protest against the Waqf Bill, drawing parallels to Mahatma Gandhi’s actions in South Africa.”If you read history, you would see that he (Mahatma Gandhi) said about the laws of white South Africa, ‘My conscience doesn’t accept this’ and he tore it up. Like Gandhi, I am also tearing up this law. This is unconstitutional. The BJP wants to create divisiveness in this country in the name of temples and mosques. I condemn this and I request you to accept the 10 amendments,” he said.His outburst was a reaction to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who, during the debate, had stated, “A member even said the minorities won’t even accept it. Who are you trying to scare? It’s the parliament’s law, everyone will follow and accept it”.JPC Chief and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal defended the Bill during the debate, stating that there is “nothing unconstitutional” about it.He also slammed Owaisi, saying, “Asaduddin Owaisi calls the bill unconstitutional, but he has done the unconstitutional thing by tearing up the bill,” and questioned his reason for doing so.Meanwhile, the CPI(M) announced its opposition to the bill and confirmed that its MPs would vote against it. The party’s stance comes amid protests from the Catholic Church, which criticised Kerala MPs for their position on the bill.Union Minister Rijiju, citing limited time, gave a brief response to the debate, stating that the bill is “legal” and “constitutional”.He also criticised the Opposition saying “You keep accusing us of appeasement politics. Who is doing appeasement?,” adding that minorities are safer in India than anywhere else.
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