Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have both expressed concerns over the passage of the Waqf Act Amendment Bill in Parliament, warning of potential negative consequences for minority communities in India.
Their comments followed the publication of an article in the RSS mouthpiece Organiser, which raised alarms about the Catholic Church’s properties in relation to the bill. Both leaders highlighted this as part of a wider agenda that could target various religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians.
Vijayan criticised the "unnecessary and untimely" mention of Church property in the article, despite it being taken down from the Organiser website. He suggested that this was indicative of the RSS's true mindset.
In his statement, Vijayan noted that the article was a signal of the Sangh Parivar's intention to target the Catholic Church after the Waqf Bill was passed. He argued that this revealed an anti-religious, majority communal attitude within the RSS, which is focused on undermining the rights of minority groups.
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The Kerala CM also pointed out that the passage of the Waqf Bill could be part of a larger plan to gradually target and weaken minority communities. He warned that this move could eventually lead to the "destruction" of these groups step by step. He called for the formation of a "progressive democratic secular movement" to resist such actions. According to Vijayan, the bill's passage is not just about Muslim minorities but may have broader implications for other communities in the future.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi echoed similar concerns in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He warned that while the Waqf Bill initially focused on Muslims, it could soon be used as a precedent to target other communities. Gandhi pointed to the RSS’s shift in focus, suggesting that the Church was now in the line of fire. He argued that this demonstrates how the Waqf Bill could be a stepping stone for further attacks on minorities. Gandhi reminded his followers that the Constitution is the only protection for India’s diverse communities. He stressed the importance of defending it from such threats.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the early hours of Friday after a lengthy and heated debate in Parliament. The Rajya Sabha session ran late into the night, with the bill receiving 128 votes in favour and 95 votes against. The Lok Sabha had passed the bill earlier in the week after extensive discussions. The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, with the goal of improving the management and administration of Waqf properties in India. It seeks to address the shortcomings of the previous law by enhancing the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process, and introducing technology to manage Waqf records.
However, critics, including Vijayan and Gandhi, argue that the Waqf Bill could lead to a dangerous precedent, where the rights of minority communities are gradually eroded under the guise of administrative reform. They believe this could be the beginning of a concerted effort to marginalise and undermine religious minorities in India.
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