New Delhi [India]: Congress MP and Waqf Amendment Bill JPC member Imran Masood has strongly criticized Syed Naseruddin Chishty, the Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council (AISSC), over his remarks supporting reforms in the Waqf Amendment Bill. Masood accused Chishty of acting as a “broker” for the BJP, saying:
“Yeh dalaali band kare BJP ki,” (Stop brokering for BJP).
Chishty’s Support for Waqf Bill Reforms
Chishty had earlier expressed support for the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, urging the Muslim community not to be influenced by “emotional and provocative statements” against the bill.
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill that the Government of India is bringing, it had already expressed its intention. The JPC has heard all parties very patiently and sent a report to the government. Hopefully, the bill that will come will be good. I believe that the existing Waqf Act needs to be changed, and no one needs to be afraid of it. We should believe the official statements only. An attempt is being made to provoke emotions, which is wrong,” Chishty said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also called the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill, aims to introduce reforms such as digitization, enhanced audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
Congress Alleges Suppression of Opposition Voices in Parliament
Criticizing the BJP-led central government, Masood alleged that Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi is not allowed to speak in Parliament. He also claimed that, during the entire Budget Session, he himself was only allowed to speak for “55 seconds.”
“Where is the debate and discussion? LoP is not allowed to speak. They turn off the mics. On 27th March, all the floor leaders wrote to the Speaker regarding this. As soon as we start speaking, they turn off the mic. There is only one-way traffic. Whatever the government wants to speak, they will speak; you keep listening… The Waqf Bill is completely unconstitutional. It overlaps many sections of the Constitution. Such overlapping cannot be done. This is a bulldozing of our constitutional rights. The opposition is being crushed. They don’t allow us to speak. In this entire session, I only spoke for 55 seconds,” Masood told ANI.
Congress MPs Accuse Government of Silencing Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh also accused the central government of trying to suppress opposition voices in Parliament.
On March 27, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla criticized the interruption faced by Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha, stating that even BJP MPs were unaware of the reason behind it.
“Even the BJP MPs don’t know why Rahul Gandhi was stopped (by the Speaker) and a comment was made on him (to follow Rule 349),” Shukla said.
Rahul Gandhi also reiterated his claim that he is never allowed to speak in the House.
“I am never allowed to speak. I don’t know what they are scared of?” said Gandhi while heading towards Parliament.