Why Target Muslims? Mamta Banerjee To Modi Govt On Waqf Amendment Bill
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West bengal, attacked the BJP-led central government on monday over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying it was directed at Muslims. She also questioned if parliament would approve it.
She raised concerns about the purported passivity of the Center on the escalating upheaval in the neighboring country and the decline of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.
The chief minister attacked the BJP-led central government harshly during a debate in the West bengal assembly on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying it was "fostering divisiveness, neglecting Constitutional norms, and mishandling issues like Bangladesh's minorities, the NRC, UCC, and CAA."
Banerjee criticized the "lack of dialogue" on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 and said that the Center had "bypassed" state governments on the issue.
She asserted that we were not consulted by the Center over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
"The budget session is in February," Banerjee said, casting doubt on the proposed legislation's timeline and procedure. Before then, won't you talk to the state about this bill? Is there not enough time? Are you not going to ask the state? After seeing an advertising, we voiced our reservations. She said that by targeting Muslims specifically, the Center was promoting a "divisive agenda".
"Why is this Waqf (Amendment) Bill only targeting one religion? Why are Muslims being singled out? Would you dare to do the same with the assets of different churches or Hindu temple trusts? No, is the response. However, focusing on a particular population fits your divisive goal, Banerjee asserted.
"Without a two-thirds majority, will the bjp be able to pass this bill in Parliament?" she questioned.
The statements were made on the first day of a two-day debate on a motion against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was introduced by state Parliamentary Affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay under Rule 169.
Banerjee referred to these unfounded claims as "misleading narratives around Waqf properties" and criticized them.
"Festivals are for everyone, but religion is for each individual. people who are abruptly shifting their positions say one thing one day and something quite different the next. All of it is deceptive and distorted, she asserted.
The leader of the trinamool congress accused the bjp of "making opposition members silent" during the Bill's Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) discussions.
Members of the opposition are not permitted to speak in the JPC. They have boycotted it because of this," Banerjee asserted.
She asserted that her party's MPs were left out of the talks and that public pressure led to the creation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
"They had to cancel their visits. Their intended destination was Kolkata. Why does kolkata frighten them? There must be a problem with this," she asserted.
Banerjee emphadata-sized the need to uphold constitutional standards.
"We cannot impede the independence of others. We don't have that right under the Constitution. Do you have a majority, BJP? The lok sabha must approve it first, followed by the Rajya Sabha. To pass this, you'll need a two-thirds majority," she said.
She raised concerns about the purported passivity of the Center on the escalating upheaval in the neighboring country and the decline of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.
The chief minister attacked the BJP-led central government harshly during a debate in the West bengal assembly on a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying it was "fostering divisiveness, neglecting Constitutional norms, and mishandling issues like Bangladesh's minorities, the NRC, UCC, and CAA."
Banerjee criticized the "lack of dialogue" on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 and said that the Center had "bypassed" state governments on the issue.
She asserted that we were not consulted by the Center over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
"The budget session is in February," Banerjee said, casting doubt on the proposed legislation's timeline and procedure. Before then, won't you talk to the state about this bill? Is there not enough time? Are you not going to ask the state? After seeing an advertising, we voiced our reservations. She said that by targeting Muslims specifically, the Center was promoting a "divisive agenda".
"Why is this Waqf (Amendment) Bill only targeting one religion? Why are Muslims being singled out? Would you dare to do the same with the assets of different churches or Hindu temple trusts? No, is the response. However, focusing on a particular population fits your divisive goal, Banerjee asserted.
"Without a two-thirds majority, will the bjp be able to pass this bill in Parliament?" she questioned.
The statements were made on the first day of a two-day debate on a motion against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was introduced by state Parliamentary Affairs minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay under Rule 169.
Banerjee referred to these unfounded claims as "misleading narratives around Waqf properties" and criticized them.
"Festivals are for everyone, but religion is for each individual. people who are abruptly shifting their positions say one thing one day and something quite different the next. All of it is deceptive and distorted, she asserted.
The leader of the trinamool congress accused the bjp of "making opposition members silent" during the Bill's Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) discussions.
Members of the opposition are not permitted to speak in the JPC. They have boycotted it because of this," Banerjee asserted.
She asserted that her party's MPs were left out of the talks and that public pressure led to the creation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
"They had to cancel their visits. Their intended destination was Kolkata. Why does kolkata frighten them? There must be a problem with this," she asserted.
Banerjee emphadata-sized the need to uphold constitutional standards.
"We cannot impede the independence of others. We don't have that right under the Constitution. Do you have a majority, BJP? The lok sabha must approve it first, followed by the Rajya Sabha. To pass this, you'll need a two-thirds majority," she said.