HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) on Monday launched a fierce attack against the BJP-led central government over the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, branding it unconstitutional, anti-minority, and a direct threat to religious autonomy.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, TPCC official spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin announced that the Congress party would challenge the legislation in the Supreme Court and mobilise democratic resistance on the ground.
Calling the legislation “a direct assault on constitutional rights, religious autonomy, and minority identity,” Nizamuddin accused the BJP of pushing the Bill through Parliament without serious debate.
“The Congress party fought this Bill clause by clause, line by line. It was our constitutional responsibility. But the BJP government rammed it through both Houses,” he said.
He recalled that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, aged 78, returned to the Rajya Sabha at 1 a.m. to cast her vote against the Bill at 2:30 a.m. “That act alone sends a strong message: we will not remain silent when the rights of any community are threatened,” he said.
Violation of Constitutional Protections
Nizamuddin said the Bill violates Article 26 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees every religious denomination the right to manage its own religious affairs. “The inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards is an affront to Islamic jurisprudence and religious autonomy,” he asserted.
He also dismissed the government’s claim that the Bill was reviewed by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). “The JPC was a mere eyewash. All suggestions from opposition parties were ignored. There was no consensus, no genuine consultation,” he said.
Highlighting the Bill’s practical implications, Nizamuddin said it empowers state governments to unilaterally declare Waqf properties as “encroached” or “unauthentic,” posing a serious threat to thousands of acres of land, especially in Telangana.
“Many Waqf properties, including historic mosques, Eidgahs, madrasas, and graveyards, date back centuries and lack modern documentation. This should not be used as an excuse to seize them,” he said.
He warned that under the amended law, government officials could issue notices demanding property documents and, in their absence, take over the land. “This is not reform—this is institutionalised land grab,” he said.
Nizamuddin raised alarm over a key legal change that would allow tenants to claim ownership of Waqf properties after 12 years. “This provision overturns existing protections under the Limitation Act and opens the door to fraudulent ownership claims,” he explained.
A Broader Attack on Minority Institutions
He alleged that the Bill is part of a broader campaign by the BJP to marginalise Muslims across sectors. “From education to economy to representation—now even religious institutions are being targeted,” he said.
He criticised the exclusion of Muslim voices in decisions regarding Muslim endowments and said that rather than strengthening Waqf Boards through audits and accountability, the government seeks to control them.
Highlighting Hyderabad’s long-standing tradition of communal harmony, Nizamuddin urged people of all faiths to stand united against the Bill. “Today it is Waqf. Tomorrow it could be Christian institutions, Sikh gurdwaras. This is a threat to all minorities,” he warned.
He described the Bill as an attempt to dismantle secular democracy and constitutional morality. “This is about religious freedom and the right to dignity for every Indian,” he said.
Nizamuddin declared that the Congress party would oppose the Bill through every available forum. “We will challenge it in the Supreme Court, fight it politically in Parliament and state legislatures, and mobilise public opinion on the ground,” he said.
He concluded by stating, “This Bill will go down as one of the darkest attacks on India’s minorities—and Congress will not remain silent.”
