During a Rajya Sabha discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Sudhanshu Trivedi accused the opposition of appeasement. He stated that the government introduced this bill in the best interests of poor Muslims.
Waqf Bill: During the Rajya Sabha discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 on Thursday, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi described it as being in the interest of poor Muslims. Accusing the opposition of playing appeasement politics, he stated that the bill was drafted after thorough deliberation and consideration. However, he added that some people were spreading misinformation about its provisions.
Targeting the Opposition – 'Waqf's Beautiful Cruelty...'
Trivedi, taking a jibe at parties opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, said, "'Waqf' has inflicted beautiful cruelty, the Muslim League and Shiv Sena have become 'us'". He questioned the Waqf Board's claim on the Taj Mahal and asked why Sunni and Shia Waqf Boards exist separately in the country.
'This fight is between Sharafat Ali and Shararat Khan'
Trivedi stated that this bill supports honest people in society. He emphasized, "This fight is between Sharafat Ali and Shararat Khan, and our government stands with Sharafat Ali." He claimed that the BJP government is with poor Muslims rather than alleged extremist contractors.
Attacking the Congress – 'Minorities used as vote bank'
The BJP MP targeted the Congress, stating that it has always played vote-bank politics. He questioned how claims on Waqf Board land were legitimized under previous governments, considering that Mughal-era properties were already confiscated during British rule. He also asked why the recovery of Hindu and Sikh lands didn't happen in the same manner as Muslim Waqf properties.
'The identity of the Muslim community is changing'
Trivedi expressed concern about the changing identity of the Muslim community. He noted that when India gained independence, the community was identified with artists like Bismillah Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Kaifi Azmi, and Sahir Ludhianvi. But today, he asked, with whom is the community associated? He cited examples of Ishrat Jahan, Yakub Memon, Atiq Ahmed, and Dawood Ibrahim, attributing this to secular politics that began in 1976.
Strong Opposition from the Opposition
The opposition bly objected to MP Sudhanshu Trivedi's statement. Several MPs, including Congress's Jairam Ramesh and Digvijaya Singh, and NCP-SP's Fauzia Khan, stated that associating an entire community with criminals is wrong. They said such statements are reprehensible and should be expunged from the proceedings. However, the Chairman defended Trivedi's statement, leading to further protests from Congress MPs.
'Ummeed' versus 'Ummah' – BJP's strategy
The BJP has named the Waqf Bill 'Ummeed' (Hope). Commenting on this, Trivedi quipped at the opposition, "We are seeing hope, but some are dreaming of Ummah. Ummah means an Islamic state. Those who see Ummeed see light, those who see Ummah see darkness." He urged all parties to pass the bill together.
Athawale's support – 'Modi will become Prime Minister again'
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale supported the bill, calling it transformative. He said it would increase unity among Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian communities. He claimed that Muslim votes previously went to the Congress but are now going to the BJP. He also expressed confidence that "Narendra Modi will become Prime Minister for a fourth time."
