A day after requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revoke the Waqf Amendment Bill entirely, which was approved in the Lok Sabha last night, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday declared that the governing DMK would move the Supreme Court to test the constitutional validity of the bill.
While speaking to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Stalin deplored the passing of the bill in the face of opposition from most political parties as a direct assault on the Constitution, which protects minority rights. Stalin asserted Tamil Nadu's resolve to resist what he characterized as the BJP-led Union government's anti-Muslim legislation, promising to battle it legally. "With the support of its allies forcing the bill through in the wee hours of the morning, BJP has delivered a harsh blow to the constitutional structure, threatening secularism," he said.
As a protest against the approval of the bill in the Lok Sabha and its subsequent tabling in the Rajya Sabha, Stalin, party members, and allied parties entered the Assembly with black badges. He stated that the Waqf Bill not only creates a huge risk to the Muslim community but also erodes the independence of Waqf Boards. He blamed the government for its passage in the face of stiff opposition from most political parties, warning that such actions might disturb communal harmony.
Earlier, on March 27, the Chief Minister had introduced a resolution in the Assembly calling for the withdrawal of the bill. He blamed the BJP for methodically developing policies that exclude certain communities, giving the example of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which excluded Muslims as well as Sri Lankan Tamils. "The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is another example of open interference in the religious management of Muslims. By taking away autonomy from Waqf Boards, this polarizing step will pose legal hurdles for waqf institutions," he said.
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