JAMMU: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra has strongly criticised the BJP over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, terming it a direct attack on the Indian Constitution and a serious threat to the country’s religious harmony.
In a statement issued today, Sadhotra said that the bill is not merely a legislative move but a calculated attempt to undermine India’s foundational principles of unity in diversity and religious freedom. He described the amendment as a direct assault on the secular fabric of the nation, alleging that it seeks to diminish the autonomy of religious institutions under the pretext of legal reform.
The former minister warned that the passage of the bill sets a dangerous precedent, enabling the BJP government to interfere in the religious affairs of various communities, including Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus. He argued that this move reflects a broader pattern of state overreach into religious institutions, raising serious concerns about the erosion of religious autonomy in the country.
“If such interference goes unchecked, it could pave the way for further legislative interventions targeting the management, administration, and practices of various religious organisations. This poses a grave threat to India’s secular and pluralistic ethos, where every faith has traditionally been allowed to govern its own affairs without undue state control,” Sadhotra said.
He cautioned that such divisive moves would disrupt the delicate communal harmony that has held the country together for decades. “This is not governance; this is a deliberate pursuit of a divisive agenda that will ruin Mahatma Gandhi’s secular India,” he stated.
Sadhotra also emphasised the crucial role that religious institutions, including the Waqf Boards, have played in social welfare and community development, particularly for marginalised sections of society. Instead of strengthening these institutions, he accused the government of seeking to weaken them, thereby creating fear and mistrust among communities.
Declaring that the National Conference would continue to resist such “unconstitutional and undemocratic measures,” he called upon all secular and democratic forces to unite in defence of the Constitution and India’s inclusive ethos. He criticised the BJP for what he described as a decade-long campaign of divisive politics, urging citizens to stand against any attempts to erode the country’s secular foundations.
