Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha on Thursday amid strong opposition from the opposition parties, likely to pose the first acid test for the TDP for its `unconditional support’ to Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the center.
While TDP has extended its support to the bill, its arch rival YCP has strongly opposed the bill. The YCP, which has been extending critical support in Parliament to the BJP for the last 10 years, though it is not formally part of the BJP-led NDA. YCP chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy tried to create a gulf among Muslim community against TDP in recent polls taking advantage of TDP returning to NDA fold. He warned them that TDP is bound to `harm’ interests of Muslims due to its association with BJP.
However, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu strongly asserted his commitment to the cause of Muslims and reminded that on earlier occasions also when he was part of NDA, he had never compromised on `Muslim interests’. For that, he showed his support to `Muslim Reservations’, despite BJP’s strong opposition to it.
Now, for the first time openly opposing a key bill introduced by the Modi government in the Parliament YCP is trying to send a strong message to the Muslim community in the state that Jaganmohan Reddy can only withstand pressures in safeguarding their interests. It also wants to brand TDP as `opportunistic’.
While all NDA allies have supported the bill, all the INDIA block parties and other opposition parties opposed the same. As a result, minister Kiran Rijiju was forced to agree to refer the bill for the consideration of the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
TDP Amalapuram MP G M Harish Mathur spoke in Lok Sabha supporting the Waqf Bill. He said that this bill was intended to protect the interests of those who donate properties for religious institutions. He said that the government is bringing this bill for transparency in such instances. Moreover, he said that the benefits of women will also be fulfilled by this bill.
Later, YCP Rajampet MP PV Mithun Reddy said that he is against the Waqf Bill. He said that he is opposing this bill in the background of opposition from Muslims. Mithun Reddy revealed that they agree with the objections raised by MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi to this extent and asked the center to withdraw this bill.