Waqf Bill Sparks Heated Debate in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi Accuses Centre of “4D Assault” on Minorities

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha witnessed a fiery debate on Wednesday as Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, for discussion and passage. The bill, aimed at modifying key provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995, drew strong criticism from the opposition, with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi leading the charge against the government’s move.

Gogoi slammed the BJP-led Centre, accusing it of carrying out a “4D assault” on minorities—“defaming, diluting, defranchising, and defaming” their rights. He called the proposed amendments “discriminatory and regressive”, claiming they were designed to weaken the Waqf Board’s authority and restrict the rights of the Muslim community.

During the debate, Rijiju defended the bill, citing the 2014 UPA government’s decision to denotify 123 prime properties in Delhi and hand them over to the Waqf Board. He argued that this decision was taken arbitrarily and lacked transparency. However, Gogoi hit back, dismissing Rijiju’s claims as “false and misleading.”

“What Kiren Rijiju said about the 2013 UPA government is completely false. I demand that he authenticate his statement with evidence,” Gogoi asserted.

Another key contention was the alleged reduction of women’s representation in the Waqf Board under the amendment. Gogoi pointed out that the 1995 Act allowed more than two women to be appointed to the board, while the new bill caps this number at just two members.

“Instead of strengthening women’s participation, this amendment weakens it. The government is taking a regressive step,” he added.

Gogoi further criticized a clause in the bill that requires individuals to prove their religious identity to access Waqf properties. Calling it an attack on fundamental rights, he asked whether similar conditions would be imposed on other religious communities.

“Has it come to a point where people will need to provide a certificate of their religion to access property? Will other religious communities be asked to do the same?” he questioned.

He also alleged that the government was attempting to sideline the judiciary by limiting the High Court’s role in Waqf disputes. He claimed that this move was an attempt to silence judicial intervention, despite the parent Waqf Act explicitly allowing the High Court to take suo-motu cognizance of cases.

In a scathing attack on the ruling party, Gogoi accused the government of fostering an anti-minority agenda, citing its stance on preventing Muslims from praying on public roads during Eid. “Congress stands against such restrictions, and we believe that all religious communities should be able to practice their faith freely,” he said.

Despite the opposition’s strong resistance, Rijiju maintained that the bill was in the national interest and rejected allegations of discrimination. He emphasized that the government had conducted multiple consultations on the bill and that it aimed to bring more transparency and efficiency to the Waqf system.