Waqf Bill Row: Om Birla furious over Sonia's statement of forcibly passing the Waqf Bill; said it is against parliamentary dignity.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was enraged by the statement of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi that the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed forcibly. Without naming anyone, he said that it is most unfortunate for a senior member to make such allegations during the proceedings of the House. This is against the dignity of parliamentary democracy.

In the general assembly meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) on Thursday, former Congress President and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi said that the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday and it is to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. This bill was passed forcibly. Our party's stand is clear. This bill is an attack on the Constitution. It is part of the BJP's well-thought-out strategy to keep our society permanently polarized.

On Friday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju raised this issue before the Lok Sabha Speaker in the Lok Sabha. Also demanded a decision on this. On this, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that a senior Congress member, who has been a member of this House and is currently a member of the other House, commented in the Parliament House complex that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed forcibly.

He said that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was debated in the Lok Sabha for 13 hours and 53 minutes, in which many members of different parties participated. There was a division of votes on the bill thrice and it was passed as per the rules of the House. Therefore, it is extremely unfortunate that despite the House sitting till late at night and passing the bill after a long debate, a senior member is doubting the proceedings of the House. This is not right. This is against the dignity of parliamentary democracy.