The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has firmly opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the NDA government, declaring that its MPs will vote against it in Parliament. The party’s stance has sparked fresh political friction, especially in Kerala, where the Catholic Church has criticized MPs for their position on the controversial bill.
CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan reaffirmed the party’s opposition while speaking at the 24th party congress in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He dismissed concerns raised by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), stating that external influences would not sway the CPI(M)’s stand. “Let there be no doubt, we will take a stand against the Waqf Bill. We have already made our stand clear. We do not keep changing our stand based on what others are saying. We have a clear stand,” Govindan asserted.
Meanwhile, the BJP in Kerala announced statewide protests, including marches to the residences of INDIA bloc MPs, condemning their opposition to the Waqf Bill. The bill, set to be tabled in Parliament, has triggered heated debates, with Govindan alleging that it does not protect Waqf properties but instead opposes them. He further claimed that some forces were deliberately stoking communal tensions over the issue.
Adding to the controversy, Church-run daily Deepika recently described the Waqf Amendment Bill as a critical test of secularism in Parliament. The editorial warned Kerala MPs that opposing the bill would align them with religious fundamentalism, while supporting it would rectify injustices affecting Hindus, Christians, and Muslims under existing Waqf laws.
Opposition parties, however, have slammed the bill as “unconstitutional” and detrimental to the Muslim community. Several Muslim organizations have been actively rallying against the legislation, which underwent scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Parliament before receiving multiple amendments.
