BJD to oppose Waqf amendment bills in Rajya Sabha

Bhubaneswar: BJD will oppose the Waqf Bills — the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 — when these come for debate in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra said on Wednesday. "From our side, Rajya Sabha member Muzibulla Khan, who is representing the Muslim community, will be speaking, and all the demerits that are there in the Bill will be presented thereafter by the BJD on the floor of the House," he added.

Congress will also protest against the Bill. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das said the Bill is a move by BJP in Parliament to undermine a particular minority community, which is against the constitutional fabric and brotherhood of the country.

"By this attempt, they are going to demonise the functioning and empowerment of the Waqf Board in different states and the Centre. We are opposing this Waqf Bill. At this point of time, everything should not be taken into consideration from a communal angle," said Das.

Several Muslim organisations and persons who opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill on Wednesday again sharply reacted to its re-introduction in the Lok Sabha for passing it. "We have rejected this bill ever since it was introduced in the house and forwarded to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). We too again reject the bill," reiterated office secretary of the state unit of Jamiat Ulema, Maulana Zayeem.

He warned that it will prove dangerous for the community. He said they would follow their all-India body's decision on the further course of action on this issue. Earlier, the national body hinted at going to the Supreme Court against the bill if necessary.

Former chairman of the state waqf board, Ekram Hussain, said it was an attack on the freedom of Muslim rights and the Waqf institution. He alleged that it was a pre-planned strategy to hand over waqf properties to land mafia and corporate houses. However, president of the state wing of the BJP minority wing, Sikandar Ali, has welcomed the reintroduction of the bill in the house.