All India Muslim Personal Law Board's (AIMPLB) Last Ditch Effort, Makes THIS Appeal to Parties, Check Who Has Numbers in Parliament

The relative lull in the second part of the Budget session is set to end on Wednesday as the Centre tables the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, setting the stage for a fierce battle between the ruling NDA and the opposition. As the government pushes forward with the bill, confident of its passage due to its parliamentary majority, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has made a last-ditch appeal to all secular parties, including BJP’s allies and MPs, to strongly oppose the bill and not vote in its favor under any circumstances.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) appeals to all secular political parties, including BJP's allies and MPs, "to strongly oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill and not vote in its favour under any circumstances." pic.twitter.com/HEv7UDKzbV

— ANI (@ANI) April 1, 2025

The only potential hurdle for the NDA could be JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar, who has raised concerns about the amendments with the BJP leadership. However, with 293 MPs in the 543-member Lok Sabha, including 12 from the JD(U), the NDA appears to have the numbers. In the Rajya Sabha, too, the bill is expected to clear easily, as the NDA commands the support of 125 MPs, surpassing the majority mark of 118.

The bill, which seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, governing the management of Muslim-donated properties, was initially introduced in August last year. However, intense opposition from political parties and Muslim organizations led to its referral to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

Heated JPC Deliberations and AIMPLB’s Appeal

Following weeks of intense deliberations—marked by heated exchanges and even an incident where Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee smashed a glass bottle, injuring himself—the JPC cleared 14 amendments to the bill. The 44 amendments proposed by opposition MPs were rejected by the committee, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal.

With the bill now set for debate, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has made a last-ditch appeal to all secular political parties, including BJP's allies and MPs, urging them to oppose the Waqf Amendment Bill and refrain from voting in its favor under any circumstances.

With the numbers stacked in the NDA’s favor, all eyes will be on the debate and whether any last-minute shifts occur in the political equations.