Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday attacked the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of attempting to "dilute the Constitution" through the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Participating in the Lok Sabha debate on Wednesday, Gogoi asserted that Congress' nationalism aligns with constitutional principles. Questioning the bill's origin, he remarked, "Did the Minority Affairs Ministry make this bill, or did some other department make it? Where did this Bill come from?" He further accused the government of compelling minorities to prove their religious identity, adding, "Will they ask for a certificate from other religions whether you have completed five years or not? Why is this being asked in this bill? Why is the government interfering in this matter of religion?"
Slamming the BJP, Gogoi accused the party of questioning a community that played a significant role in India's freedom struggle. He also pointed to recent restrictions on offering Namaz on roads in BJP-ruled states, adding, "A few weeks ago, their double-engine government didn't even allow people to offer Namaz on roads... You claim to sympathise with the minorities, but I want to ask how many MPs are from the minority communities?"
Refuting Rijiju's claims about prior discussions on the bill, Gogoi argued, "The minister had said while introducing the Bill earlier that there have been discussions on the same. However, this is misleading. In 2023, the minority affairs committee met four times I urge the government to table the minutes of these meetings. They didn't even mention the Waqf (amendment) bill even once."
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