National Democratic Alliance party Telugu Desam Party has issued a whip to its Lok Sabha MPs where all of them has been asked to be present when the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill is tabled in Parliament today. Similarly BJP also asked its memeber sto be present along with JD(U) as three of these parties make the majority of the NDA in the Lower House.
The INDIA bloc parties are against the amendment of the bill and had held a meeting in the Parliament House on April 1 to discuss and formulate their strategy against the passing of the bill. Other parties who has expressed their discontent with the bill are YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) who reportedly said about opposing the Bill in both Houses along with Owaisi and Chandrashekhar Azad of the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram).
The Waqf Amendment Bill will be tabled after the Question Hour in the ongoing Parliament session today for consideration and passing. Following that, an 8-hour discussion will be held and may increase as per demand.
TDP
The Telugu Desam Party issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs asking them to be present at the bill's tabling and according to a press release, "The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has issued a three-line whip to all its Members of Parliament, directing them to be present in the Lok Sabha on April 2, 2025. This directive comes in light of the scheduled introduction of the Waqf Bill, which is expected to be a matter of significant discussion in the House."
Meanwhile, the Indian Express has reported that the 16 TDP MPs will raise an issue regarding the Bill - "The party will unanimously demand that representation of non-Muslims in the board be left to the discretion of the respective states."
Recently at an iftar held in March, Naidu reportedly reassured his Muslim voters to “work in the best interests of the Muslim community” and also said his government was “committed to protecting Waqf properties”.
“Justice has been done to the Muslim community under TDP rule. And Muslims will be better off with the NDA in power,” he added.
BJP
The BJP has also issued a whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs directing them to be present in the House on Wednesday, reported ANI.
Jan Sena
Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party has confirmed their support for the Waqf Amendment Bill and the party MPs will reportedly participate in the voting process of the bill.
Jan Sena released a statementon the matter, "The central government is introducing the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, and the Jana Sena Party has expressed its support for it. The party believes that this amendment will benefit the Muslim community. In this regard, party president Pawan Kalyan has issued directives to Jana Sena MPs in the Lok Sabha, instructing them to participate in the voting and support the bill."
About Waqf Amendment Bill
The Waqf Bill was recently cleared by the Union Cabinet after the amendments suggested by the joint parliamentary committee were approved.
The 655-page report was approved by the parliamentary panel by a majority of votes. Around 11 MPs objected and submitted their dissenting opinions.
In Islamic law, waqf refers to any property dedicated "in the name of God" for charitable purposes. The proceeds from such properties are used to maintain mosques, fund schools for the poor. Under this, once a property has been designated as waqf, it cannot be transferred, sold or given away.
One of the kye changes proposed in the Waqf Bill is the inclusion of non-Muslims in institutions such as Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and waqf tribunals.
Under this bill, the Cnetre will have the power to appoint three MPs - two from the Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha, without them requiring to be Muslims.
