Party MPs to Vote Against Legislation as Protests Mount Across Communities
Thiruvananthapuram/Madurai, April 2 – The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday unequivocally opposed the Centre's proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, announcing that its MPs will vote against it in Parliament. This announcement comes amid growing dissent from religious and political quarters in Kerala.
CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan confirmed the party's position during a media briefing at the 24th party congress underway in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, from April 2 to 6.
“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 stated firmly.
CPI(M) Unfazed by Catholic Church's Criticism
The CPI(M)'s position has drawn criticism from the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), which has taken a contrary view. However, Govindan brushed aside the KCBC's stance, asserting that it would not influence the party's decision.
He criticized the proposed amendment, arguing that it was not in favour of the Waqf but rather opposed its interests, and warned that the legislation could potentially fuel communal discord.
BJP Protests Target INDIA Bloc MPs in Kerala
In a parallel development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala announced that it would hold protest marches to the homes of all INDIA bloc MPs in the state on Wednesday. The protest is aimed at condemning the MPs' opposition to the Waqf Bill, according to a party statement.
Editorials and Religious Sentiments Add Pressure
Adding to the political drama, Church-run daily Deepika published a strongly worded editorial, labeling the bill a litmus test of secularism. The paper warned that failure to support the legislation would mark MPs as endorsing religious fundamentalism, and argued that the bill seeks to rectify injustices suffered by Hindu, Christian, and Muslim citizens under the existing Waqf laws.
Opposition Labels the Bill Unconstitutional
The Waqf Amendment Bill, currently scheduled for tabling in Parliament, has faced mounting opposition from multiple quarters. Several Muslim organisations and opposition parties have condemned it as unconstitutional and harmful to the interests of the Muslim community.
The bill had earlier been examined by a Joint Committee of Parliament, which approved it with several amendments, but it remains deeply controversial as it moves toward debate in the House.
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