The Waqf Bill is to be done in the Lok Sabha today: here is a look that how the number is piled up for NDA, India

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju is ready to introduce Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, re -worked in Lok Sabha on 2 April, amidst staunch opposition from India block and major Muslim groups, head Muslim groups including All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and both Congress and their allies on Wednesday issued a whip to their Members of Parliament (MPs) to ensure their presence in the House throughout the day.

The end results can be fixed on the majority number on the floor, showing no indication of bipartisan unanimous building with parties in the ruling BJP -led National Democratic alliance and opposition India block.

The Bill will be introduced after the question hour today to consider and pass. Next, an 8-hour discussion will be held, which can be increased.

According to the BJP and the Congress, their colleagues have also issued a whip to all their MPs to be present in Parliament on 2 and 3 April.

The opposition has been vocal in its criticism of the Waqf Bill, in which Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Koda Dharmendra Yadav issued a 3-line whip to all his MPs in the Lok Sabha to be present in the house on April 2 and participate in the discussion on the bill.

India Block Floor Leaders on Tuesday held a meeting in Parliament to discuss the strategy on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The parties in BLOC unanimously decided to hold a complete discussion on the WAQF amendment bill and will vote against it in Parliament.

The bill was earlier presented in the Lok Sabha in August last year, after which a joint parliamentary committee was formed under the leadership of BJP MP Jagdamika Pal for further views.

What is Waqf Bill?

Last month, the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposed amendments in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after the JPC included changes.

Union Cabinet, it is learned, most changes recommended by JPC have been included. The panel approved the bill on 27 January, adopting all the 14 changes proposed by NDA members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The aim of the bill is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, so that issues and challenges can be resolved in regulating and managing Waqf properties. It wants to improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India.

The government says that the objective of the bill is to increase the efficiency of WAQF boards by presenting changes such as overcoming the shortcomings of the previous Act and changing the name of the Act, updating the definitions of Waqf, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in the management of WAQF records.

The opposition has called the bill an ‘unconstitutional’, in which Eimim chief Asaduddin Owasi has alleged that the aim of the bill is to snatch the cemetery, khanqah and dargahs from Muslims.

The WAQF Act of 1995 enacted to regulate WAQF properties has faced criticism on alleged mismanagement, corruption and encroachments.

NDA number

The NDA, led by the BJP, holds a safe majority in the Lok Sabha, where 272 votes are required to pass a law in the 542 -member House.

Among the prominent colleagues, 16 MPs along with Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal United with 12 MPs, Lok Janshati Party (Ram Vilas) with 5 and Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde with 7 MPs. The nation, the public are two members of the Dal-Secular (JDS), Janasena Party (JSP)

India block number

Opposition parties have strongly opposed the bill, which is unconstitutional and harmful for the interests of the Muslim community.

The Congress led the India Block’s campaign with 99 seats in the Lok Sabha, followed by Samajwadi Party with 37 seats, 22 with 28, DMK with TMC, Shiv Sena (UBT) 9, 8 with NCP-SP, 8 with NCP-SP, 4 with CPIM, 3 with RJD4, 3 with RJD4, 3 with JMM. It brings the number of India blocks to 235 against the NDA’s strong 293 in the Lok Sabha.

AIMIM’s only MP Asaduddin Owaisi is also opposing the bill, although it is not part of the India block. In other non-fed parties, YSRCP along with 4 MPs has said that the bill will oppose.

Rajya Sabha number

In the Rajya Sabha, which has a power of 245, NDA has 125 MPs. With nine berths being empty, the NDA requires the support of 118 MPs – which is to ensure that the bill is passed. The Rajya Sabha includes NDA’s number 98, 4 of JD (U), 3 of Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and 2 of TDP. This bill will be lifted by the upper house after its passage in the Lok Sabha.

AIMPLB Appeal

AIMPLB, the top body of Muslim clerics, on Tuesday, issued an enthusiastic appeal for secular political parties, including BJP allies, urging them to strongly oppose the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024. The board has called MPs to vote for BJP’s communal Aignda, “to vote for BJP’s communal Egnda,