Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution opposing the Centre’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, leading to a dramatic walkout by BJP legislators, who accused the ruling Congress government of engaging in “Muslim appeasement.”
The resolution, moved by Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, strongly criticised the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for acting “unilaterally and arbitrarily,” while ignoring parliamentary traditions and the concerns raised by opposition members. Patil claimed that the JPC had failed to take into account the inputs of key stakeholders, including the Karnataka State Waqf Board, which had submitted objections to the proposed amendments.
“The proposed amendment to the Waqf Act encroaches and curtails the executive and legislative powers of the state government,” Patil said. He further argued that the bill violates the principles of equity, equality, and parity, and labelled it as ultra vires to the Constitution.
Patil noted that despite strong objections from various State Waqf Boards and stakeholders across the country, the Centre proceeded to introduce the bill in Parliament. The resolution urged the Central Government to immediately withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, stating that its provisions undermine the federal structure and violate constitutional principles.
The BJP members staged a walkout in protest against the resolution, claiming that the Congress government was prioritising vote-bank politics. “This is the height of Muslim appeasement. The government favours Pakistan,” a BJP MLA remarked during the heated debate.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also criticised the Congress, accusing it of ignoring the plight of farmers whose land records, he claimed, were altered in favour of the Waqf Board.
The ruling Congress, however, maintained that the resolution was a necessary step to safeguard the state’s rights and legislative autonomy from what they described as an overreach by the Centre.
