There was a war of words in the Lok Sabha between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The matter started when Akhilesh suggested that most of the powers of the Speaker were being taken away.

Akhilesh Yadav termed the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, as ‘political motive.’ He said so many religious bodies run without outside interference; then why appoint a non-Muslim to the Waqf Board. Yadav has also referred to an old case of one K K Nair, a district magistrate in Faizabad in 1949, to point out that such appointments have been troublesome.

He accused the BJP of trying to please its hardcore supporters as it was “reeling under political setbacks”. Looking directly at the Speaker, Yadav said, “Mr Speaker, our rights are being curtailed. I have heard that many of your rights are being taken away. We will fight for you.”.

Shah and Yadav Clash Over Waqf Amendments

Intervening, Amit Shah said the Speaker has authority over the entire House. “Akhilesh ji, aise ullat-pullat baat nahi kar sakte hain. You are not the custodian of Speaker’s rights,” he told Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav hit back, “The Bill has been brought because the BJP recently faced a defeat in the elections.”

The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 shall bring changes to a total of 40 amendments in the present Waqf Act administering the Waqf Boards and offer representation in the same bodies to Muslim women and non-Muslims.