Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 17: The Congress on Thursday strongly welcomed the Supreme Court’s interim relief on the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, branding the legislation as an act of “retaliation disguised as reform” and warning of its broader implications on constitutional freedoms.
Speaking at a press conference, senior Congress leader and MP Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, along with fellow MP Imran Pratapgarhi, criticized the Act as an orchestrated attempt to infiltrate and dominate minority institutions under the cover of administrative efficiency.
“This is not reform, this is retaliation — precisely timed, deeply political, and constitutionally dubious,” said Singhvi. He argued that the law was not about improving Waqf institutions, but about “controlling them, reducing autonomy to protocol, and rewriting rights with bureaucratic ink.”
Rejecting the notion that the Congress was standing up for a single community, Singhvi emphasized the party’s commitment to defending constitutional values. “This is not a community issue. It’s a constitutional one. Article 26 protects the rights of all religious denominations — and today, it’s the Waqf, but tomorrow, it could be any institution, any faith, even your voice,” he warned.
He slammed the government’s claims of inclusivity, saying a “token Muslim presence on a board isn’t representation — it’s appropriation.” According to Singhvi, the Act transforms religious identity into a liability and turns faith-based institutions into government-controlled entities.
Calling the law “morally hollow” and “legally indefensible,” he stated: “You cannot amputate Article 26 and call it reform.”
Imran Pratapgarhi also voiced gratitude for the court’s intervention, accusing the government of ramming the bill through Parliament while ignoring opposition input in both the JPC and legislative debates.
Both leaders called for continued scrutiny of the Act, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for minority rights and religious freedom in the country.