‘Did you abstain for Muslim votes?’: Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam to Uddhav camp on Waqf bill

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday introduced The Waqf (Amendment) Bill and proposed sending it to a joint parliamentary committee

Updated on: Aug 9, 2024, 19:19:36 IST

By HT News Desk

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Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Friday lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) for opposing the Narendra Modi government's Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

“Yesterday when Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha, many leaders of INDIA alliance objected to this...9 MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT) abstained from voting. I want to ask, did you abstain for Muslim votes?...Shiv Sena (UBT) has to specify, they want this bill or not,” Nirupam told ANI.

ALSO READ: Sufi shrines body backs Waqf amendment bill, wants more powers for Dargah

On Thursday, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora had also slammed the Uddhav Thackeray camp over its opposition to the bill.

ALSO READ: Proposed Waqf act amendments aim to regulate properties, ensure inclusivity

“Today in Parliament, the real face of Uddhav Thackeray's UBT representatives and their hypocrisy was exposed when all UBT representatives were absent during the discussion on the Waqf Board Bill. Muslims voted for you, but why is there silence in return? Muslims will definitely seek the answer to this question from the MPs of UBT,” he said on X.

The Shiv Sena (UBT), a member of the INDIA bloc has opposed the bill, calling it ‘anti-Muslim’.

“Behind every reform, they (BJP) have brought their agenda of polarization. Initially, they did it based on religion now they are doing it on a caste basis. This bill is anti-muslim, anti-religion and anti-federal structure. It has gone to a joint committee and if they want to snatch anyone's rights, we will strongly oppose that,” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi told ANI.

ALSO READ: ‘To give justice to ordinary Muslims’: Rijiju defends Waqf Bill amid opposition

“This bill shows that they intend to benefit from the bill in the upcoming state elections of Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand. But, the people now understand them and they have shown it in Lok Sabha elections,” she added.

Waqf bill sent to JPC

The Centre on Friday announced a 31-member joint parliamentary committee including 21 Lok Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs constituted to look into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

ALSO READ: What BJP key allies JD(U) and TDP said on Waqf Board (Amendment) Bill

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday introduced The Waqf (Amendment) Bill and proposed sending it to a joint parliamentary committee after Opposition parties objected to its provision.

Congress MP KC Venugopal called the bill an “attack on federal system”.

“We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra and Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system,” he said.

(With agency inputs)

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