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The Budget session of Parliament was notable for reasons both good and bad. The sittings of the two Houses stretched beyond midnight to clear the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025. The debates reflected the significant divergence of opinion on the management of Waqf properties, but were held in a convivial atmosphere. The Chairs of both Houses were elated to preside over a productive session and the ruling BJP was content to find allies strongly on its side, particularly on the Waqf law amendment. Parliament also approved President’s Rule in Manipur, following debates held past midnight. The Opposition was buoyant that it got to have its say. It had its constituents holding together, and it even attracted some fence-sitters on select issues during the session. The BJP not only managed to steer the legislative agenda but also played to the gallery to please its political constituency. It was, however, not all good news. Off the floor of Parliament, business advisory committee meetings of the two Houses saw sharp exchanges, in one instance prompting Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to walk out. The stand-off between the Congress and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, on the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, not being given adequate opportunities to speak, remained unresolved.
The vote on the Waqf Bill exposed the differences within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) as well as the divergence between prospective allies, the BJP and the AIADMK. The BJD’s decision not to issue a whip riled many within the party, more so considering BJD patriarch Naveen Patnaik’s clear stance against the Waqf Bill. One of the reasons for the AIADMK-BJP split in 2023, was the regional party’s fear of losing its minority voter base. The AIADMK voted against the Waqf Bill, underscoring its reservations about the BJP’s agenda. While the YSRCP, the AIADMK and the BJD showed an eagerness to keep a distance from the BJP, the JD(U) and the TDP ended up in an embrace of their dominant ally. The merits of the Waqf amendments may be debatable but the government’s refusal to take the Muslim community into confidence on an important piece of legislation is a classic sign of majoritarianism. Barring a nominated member in the upper House, no Muslim MP supported the amendments. The Waqf debate also highlighted the fact that the ruling alliance does not have a single elected member from the community in Parliament. Beyond the veneer of efficient outcomes, the session sharpened political and communal polarisation. Discussions should ideally expand the common ground, but this session failed on that count.
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Published – April 07, 2025 12:20 am IST
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The missing middle: on Budget session of Parliament, debate
