New Delhi: The Lok Sabha will certainly witness some fireworks after the debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill starts on Wednesday. In the morning, Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju – who tabled the Bill in Parliament – sparked off a debate outside the House by claiming that several Opposition members support the Bill privately, but oppose it in public for political gain.
While eight hours have been allotted for the debate on the Bill, many believe that it will take more time, given the antics of our Parliamentarians. It would be interesting to hear members of the Janata Dal United (JDU) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) – both NDA allies – speak on the Bill.
There have been efforts by the Opposition to get the JDU and TDP to oppose the Bill, by warning them of a drop in minority votes. The TDP has maintained that though its leader N Chandrababu Naidu stands firmly with the Muslims, the party will support the Government. The JDU has also announced its support but has urged that the Bill not have any retrospective effect.
Opposition MPs from Kerala are in a bind, with the Catholic Bishops’ Council of the state asking them to support the Bill. Their statements in Parliament will also be of interest, as they try to do a balancing act. Both Christian and Muslim votes are crucial in Kerala, after all.
The Trinamool Congress has been a staunch opponent of the Bill from the start. With Assembly elections due in West Bengal in about a year, Its members will certainly go hammer and tongs against the Government, knowing fully well that the eyes of the minority voters will be upon them.
There have been allegations by Opposition members that the Joint Parliamentary Committee, set up to review the Bill, did not pay any heed to their objections. This will also come up during the day’s debate.
However, the Government is likely to sail through smoothly with a score of at least 295. The Opposition can manage 234 at best, provided there is no walkout during the voting.
