The BJP has to “Manage” the Supreme Court to defend the Waqf Act

CHENNAI: The talk on the street is whether the BJP can “manage” the Supreme Court to defend its Waqf Act. People are citing the Apex Court judgment in the Ayodhya case that placated the majority community and expect its repeat in the Waqf Act case by the Supreme Court, where this case is now going to be contested.

The AIMIM’s MP Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress’ MP Mohammad Jawed have already moved the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, hours after the Parliament cleared it.

Here in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, has also announced that his party would file a case in the Supreme Court against the Bill.

"We will prevent the bill through legal measures, said Stalin while speaking in the state assembly on April 3, 2025. “Our stand is that this bill should not merely be opposed but completely withdrawn," he added.

Stalin took strong objection to the passage of the Waqf Bill and pointed that though 288 votes were polled in favor of the Waqf Bill, there were 232 votes polled against the bill, which is no ordinary number.

Tamil Nadu resolution against Waqf Bill

Stalin said, "The Tamil Nadu assembly adopted a resolution urging the Union Government to completely withdraw the Waqf Bill on 27th March 2025, and except for the BJP, all other members supported our resolution."

"Although we passed the resolution and the majority of political parties opposed it, the bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha, which is highly condemnable," he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister alleged that the passing of the bill at 2 a.m., despite opposition from the majority of parties and with the support of only a few coalition parties of the BJP, is "an attack" on the Constitution.

He charged that the “Waqf Bill” puts question of country's secularism to the test.  “The bill would destroy the autonomy of the Waqf Board, affect the Muslim community and disturb religious harmony in the country, the DMK supremo said, adding his party will fight against it till it is quashed by the Court.   

A Muslim MLA who attended the Assembly session wearing a black band on his arms commented on the developments, saying, “The BJP has bulldozed the voice of 232 members opposing the Waqf Bill, and this interpretation of democracy will be remembered for long.”