Rahul Gandhi has condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the Waqf Bill, calling it an "attack on the Constitution."
He said, "The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a weapon aimed at marginalizing Muslims and stripping them of their personal laws and property rights. This RSS-BJP attack on the Constitution begins with Muslims today but may lead to attacks on other communities in the future," he tweeted as Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
Gandhi further emphasized, “The Congress party firmly opposes this bill because it undermines the essence of India and breaches Article 25, which protects the Right to Freedom of Religion.”
When a user on Twitter (now X) inquired about Rahul Gandhi’s opinion, the AI tool Perplexity AI responded that the concerns raised were “legitimate.”
It said, "The Waqf Amendment Bill raises legitimate questions about religious freedom and property rights that require careful constitutional scrutiny. Any legislation impacting specific communities must strike a balance between national interests and the fundamental rights enshrined by India's pluralistic framework."
Nasir Khuehami, who is the National Convenor of the J&K Students Association, replied to Gandhi, stating, "This is unconstitutional and against our fundamental rights. This bill contradicts Article 14, which guarantees equality before law, Article 25, which gives protection to freedom of religion, and Article 26, which permits the management of religious affairs!"
Conversely, anti-caste activist Suraj Kumar Bauddh contended, "No, the Waqf Bill is not an attack on the Constitution. Article 25(2)(a) actually encourages transparency in the financial and secular aspects of religious bodies. The Congress party gave power to the Waqf Board to acquire land from the poor, Dalits, and the government. It's time to rectify this injustice."
What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill?
The Waqf Amendment Bill is a government-proposed amendment to how Waqf properties are governed.
Under this Bill, individuals cannot just say that land is Waqf without presenting concrete evidence, like legal papers. Even if a family has possessed some land for generations, nobody can just say that it is Waqf without talking to the family first and maybe appearing in court.
Earlier, Waqf Boards used to have immense powers. But with this new Bill, everyone gets a chance to put forth their case and establish who the real owner of the land is.
Due to this amendment, mosques and dargahs which do not have proper or formal records may also be in trouble. Smaller Waqf Boards with poor documentation might also be in the line of fire.
Arguments Against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill
Under the present system, mosques are already vulnerable to questioning. For example, in Gyanvapi, a survey was carried out despite being a Waqf property. But this Bill facilitates the government machinery to take over and eliminates an essential legal safeguard (Waqf by user) against future claims.
It also introduces a lot of paperwork that many might find cumbersome
