'Petitions against Waqf Act are for vote bank', BJP calls protesters anti-constitutional

The BJP on Monday slammed several PILs challenging the new Waqf Act, terming them vote bank interest litigations. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed that the petitions filed in the Supreme Court by several organizations were just an excuse to incite their vote bank and create a riot-like situation in the country.

He said the new law would only harm the land mafia which has occupied Waqf's properties. Poonawalla alleged that Congress, AIMIM, and some Muslim organizations which are opposing the law have also alleged that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will take away the citizenship of Muslims.

The BJP leader claimed that the new law will ensure social justice and ensure application of the Constitution in the management of Waqf properties. He said many Muslim bodies and even Christian organisations have welcomed the amendment in the Waqf Act and said that it is not a Hindu-Muslim issue.

'Opposition to Waqf Act is gross contempt of Constitution'

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday objected to the opposition to the Waqf Bill Act in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. He accused state governments like Tamil Nadu and Jammu and Kashmir of showing "gross contempt" for the Constitution by challenging the law passed by Parliament.

Trivedi said the Waqf Bill has been passed following due process, which is constitutionally established. But there are some state governments which are opposing it, be it the Tamil Nadu government or Jammu and Kashmir. This clearly shows that they are showing gross contempt for the Constitution.

He emphasized that under the Constitution of India, state governments do not have the right to oppose the law passed by the Parliament. He said that the kind of scenes that were witnessed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, if they are tearing it apart, then it means that these are the people at whose hands the Constitution is in danger.''

It is worth noting that on April 5, President Draupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by the Parliament during the budget session.