Tamil Nadu, Mar 27: The DMK-led Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution on Thursday opposing the proposed Waqf amendment bill in Parliament and urged the central government to withdraw it.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said, “Union Government is trying to amend Waqf Bill, which will hinder the Waqf Board’s powers. This is hurting Muslim sentiments, and Union Government does not bother about it.”
He added, “People are living in religious harmony in India. The Constitution has provided rights for all people to follow their religion. The elected governments have the rights to protect it. The Assembly unanimously insists that the Union government should recall the Waqf Amendment Bill in 2024 for Waqf Act 1995, which will badly affect the minority Muslims to be withdrawn.”
AIADMK national spokesperson Kovai Sathyan criticized the resolution, saying, “Looks like DMK is in a hurry to set a narrative based on religion, language… trying to instigate people… for vote bank politics is highly condemnable.”
The move comes a day after opposition parties created a ruckus in the Bihar assembly over the Waqf amendment bill. Opposition members demanded the withdrawal of the bill and the full implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations, which highlighted the poor socio-economic conditions of Muslims.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has not yet been introduced in the Lok Sabha, but the Cabinet has approved the proposed amendments, incorporating recommendations from the parliamentary panel. The bill is expected to spark another clash between the government and opposition parties once it is tabled for discussion and passage.
