Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh’s opposition party YSR Congress has clarified that its MPs voted against Waqf Amendment Bill in both Houses of the Parliament.
YSR Congress Party dismissed the allegation by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) that its MPs voted in favour of the Bill. YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader Y.V. Subba Reddy has challenged TDP to provide evidence to prove its allegation that YSCRP did not oppose the Bill.
The party headed by former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the recorded proceedings of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha serve as clear evidence of their opposition to the legislation.
YSRCP has four members in Lok Sabha and seven in Rajya Sabha.
YSRCP leader and former deputy chief minister Amzath Basha strongly condemned the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of Muslim rights. He said the bill contradicts Articles 14, 15, 25, 26, and 300 of the Indian Constitution, which ensure equality, non-discrimination, religious freedom, and property rights.
He accused the NDA of betraying its promise of equal rights and undermining Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitution.
Basha labelled the bill a conspiracy to seize Waqf properties, sacred Muslim assets dedicated to Allah, denouncing Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s claim that they belong to the government as baseless. He highlighted that Waqf laws prohibit even donors from reclaiming such properties, questioning the government’s legal basis.
Basha also slammed TDP and Jana Sena for backing the bill in Delhi despite opposing it in Andhra Pradesh, accusing Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan of aligning with the “anti-Muslim” NDA for political gain.
He pointed to the bill’s removal of the “Waqf by User” provision, which previously recognised religious sites like mosques without documentation, warning that the new six-month proof requirement threatens centuries-old properties.
He accused the NDA of targeting 8.75 lakh acres of Waqf land nationwide and treating minorities as second-class citizens while reaffirming YSRCP’s commitment to Muslim rights.
Another YSRCP leader and former MLA Hafeez Khan slammed TDP for supporting ‘unconstitutional’ Waqf Bill.
He noted that all Muslim MPs opposed the bill in Parliament, citing its flaws and accusing the NDA of undermining India’s constitutional values. Khan claimed the bill, widely rejected by Muslim organisations, aims to seize Waqf lands and incite religious tensions, with NDA conspiring to plunder properties via schemes like Umeed.
He criticised Chandrababu Naidu for backing the BJP despite pre-election promises to support minorities, questioning the move to grant collectors authority over Waqf lands, which he said risks illegal occupation by coalition leaders. Khan stated that the BJP, supported by Naidu and Nitish Kumar, seeks to grab nine lakh acres of land and weaken minorities by rendering the Waqf Tribunal ineffective while also blocking their economic and political progress due to a lack of representation and funds.
Khan highlighted ongoing democratic and legal efforts to oppose the bill, praising JM Reddy for resisting it and standing by minorities. He vowed to continue fighting this “divisive” legislation to protect Waqf properties and minority rights.
