Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 14: Amid intensifying backlash against the newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Monday launched a scathing critique of the INDIA Bloc, accusing parties like the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Congress of treating the Constitution as a tool for political convenience.
Trivedi’s comments came in response to statements from Karnataka and Jharkhand leaders who voiced strong objections to the implementation of the Act. “The kind of irrational and irresponsible statements being made lately about a law that has cleared all constitutional procedures is alarming,” he said. “When ministers in Karnataka say they won’t implement it, and their counterparts in Jharkhand talk of Sharia being above the Constitution, it’s a wake-up call for the nation.”
He underlined that according to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, power and jurisdiction are clearly distributed among central, state, and local governments. “Just like no district can defy a state law, no state can deny a law passed by the Parliament. Their defiance is not dissent—it’s constitutional indiscipline,” he said. “For the Opposition, the Constitution lives in their pockets. For us, it lives in our hearts.”
Trivedi also accused the Opposition of dishonouring the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, especially on his birth anniversary. “They’re glorifying Sharia over Ambedkar’s Constitution. That’s not just disrespectful, it’s dangerous. The 73rd and 74th amendments they now oppose were passed under their own governments,” he said.
Taking aim at Congress MP Imran Masood for his remark that the Waqf Act could be “fixed in an hour” if Congress returned to power, Trivedi called it a blatant mockery of the constitutional process. “It took detailed debate and procedure to build this country’s laws. You can’t amend the Constitution like flipping a switch. This shows the kind of governance they would bring—instant, impulsive, and irresponsible,” he said.
He further invoked history, alleging that Congress and Communist parties were responsible for Ambedkar’s electoral defeat in 1952. “He lost by 14,000 votes, and 78,000 were declared invalid. Even Ambedkar had filed a complaint about it. Today, those same forces talk about justice and amendments.”
Trivedi didn't spare West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee either. “If a district government refused to follow a state law in Bengal, would she allow it? Then how can she justify a state going against central legislation? Her party is increasingly influenced by extremist forces, and her rhetoric is becoming a national threat,” he said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 officially came into force on April 8, following presidential assent on April 5. The BJP-led NDA government has positioned the Act as a measure to bring greater transparency in Waqf board operations and improve the inclusion of marginalised groups, particularly women, within the Muslim community.
Despite government assurances, opposition parties and several Muslim organisations, including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), have expressed deep concerns, labelling the law discriminatory and unconstitutional. Many have approached the Supreme Court seeking intervention.
Tensions have escalated since the Act’s implementation. In Murshidabad, West Bengal, protests turned violent, leaving three dead and over 200 arrested. In response, the Calcutta High Court ordered immediate deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to restore calm.
As the national debate intensifies, the Waqf Act has emerged as yet another flashpoint in the broader ideological battle between the ruling BJP and the Opposition ahead of the general elections.