The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has voiced strong displeasure over the absence of Wayanad MP and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during the debate on the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament.
The criticism came through Suprabhatham, the mouthpiece of the influential Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, which described her absence as a “black mark”.
The editorial, published on 4 April, also questioned her whereabouts during the debate, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was pushing for the bill’s passage—legislation that, the paper said, encroaches on the fundamental rights of the Muslim community.
In addition to targeting Priyanka Gandhi, the editorial questioned the silence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “Where was the opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, when the bill affecting the unity of the nation was being debated?” it asked.
Despite its criticism of the Congress leadership, the publication acknowledged the collective stand taken by parties within the INDIA bloc—including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Left parties—against the bill.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain also criticised the legislation, calling it “unconstitutional and unfair.”
Also read: Centre blocking discussions in Parliament: Priyanka Gandhi
“We believe that it is a constitutional problem and that this bill is unconstitutional and unfair. It is targeted legislation. The debate in both houses was very good. We disagreed with the government. Despite knowing that there would be many issues with the bill in the coming days, the government was adamant about passing it... The opposition fought unitedly,” he said.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, was passed by Parliament after extensive debates in both Houses. The Rajya Sabha sat beyond midnight on Thursday to clear the bill, with Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar announcing, “Ayes 128 and Noes 95, Absent zero. The Bill is passed.”
Earlier, the Lok Sabha had passed the bill on Wednesday after a marathon discussion.
The revised bill incorporates recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee that reviewed the initial version introduced in August last year. It seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 to improve the administration and management of Waqf properties across India.
The government maintains that the new provisions are aimed at correcting the shortcomings of the earlier law, streamlining the registration process, and expanding the role of technology in managing Waqf records more efficiently.
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