CPM’s Waqf bill resolution calls for united fight by secular forces

MADURAI: The 24th party congress of the CPM on Friday adopted a resolution condemning the passage of the Waqf bill and called on secular and democratic citizens to unite and demand its withdrawal.

Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, early on Friday after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate.

The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha early on Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it. The Bill is now awaiting the president’s assent before it becomes law.

“This 24th congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill by Parliament. This legislation is an assault on the Constitution and the rights of minorities,” according to the resolution adopted by the CPM.

“The CPM calls upon all secular people and organisations of the country to protest against this Act, which will only increase communal polarisation and damage the secular fabric of the nation,” the Left party said. According to the resolution, the earlier law was a legal framework governing Waqf properties and ensuring their proper administration, protection and utilisation for religious and charitable purposes.

However, the amended legislation makes significant changes that will undermine the foundational principles laid out in the earlier legislation, the CPM said.

“Through this amendment, the BJP government is pushing its Hindutva agenda, aiming to divide people. It (BJP) has been repeatedly claiming that the earlier Act has been used for extensive land grab by Muslims,” according to the resolution.

Despite Islamic injunctions prohibiting non-Muslims from managing Waqf properties, the amended legislation provides for including non-Muslims in Waqf boards, according to the resolution.

“This is an attack on the constitutional right of Muslims to practice their religion,” the CPM said.

By making it mandatory that only a Muslim who can prove that he or she has followed the religion for at least five years can donate land to Waqf boards, the amended legislation is opening the way for harassment of Muslims and can actually prevent them from creating or contributing to Waqf properties, it further said. Many non-Muslims also contribute to the building of mosques, etc, and this expression of brotherhood and fraternity will no longer be possible under the amended law, it added.

As per amendments, the majority of Waqf properties in the country will become vulnerable to government takeover,” the CPM said.