New Delhi: Calling the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 a battle between the “Samvidhan (Constitution) and Farmans (Religious Decrees),” BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi ignited a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha. Defending the Bill, Trivedi asserted that it aims to empower poor Muslims while challenging decades of appeasement politics. He accused the opposition of prioritising vote-bank politics over constitutional principles, questioning the selective approach in addressing land disputes.
BJP’s Stand: Supporting ‘Sharafat Ali’ Over ‘Shararat Khan’
Participating in the discussion, Trivedi argued that the government’s intent was to uplift marginalised Muslims rather than cater to radical elements. “This fight is between Sharafat Ali and Shararat Khan. Our government is standing with Sharafat Ali, and we are with poor Muslims,” Trivedi declared, adding that the Bill seeks to curb the influence of fundamentalist leaders who exploit Waqf properties for personal gain.
He further accused previous governments of legalizing dubious land claims by Waqf boards, questioning why similar provisions were not extended to Sikh and Hindu communities. “The British had taken over all the land that once belonged to the Mughals. Then how did the Waqf Board’s land claims get legitimized under previous regimes? Why were the lands of Sikhs and Hindus not retrieved in the same manner?” he questioned.
He added, “We stood with brave Muslims, while Congress sided with terrorists: BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi “On the anniversary of Veer Abdul Hamid’s martyrdom in 2015, PM Narendra Modi honoured his entire family, including his wife. But during Congress rule, a terrorist like Yasin Malik, who was accused of killing three Air Force officers, was honoured.”
#WATCH | We stood with brave Muslims, while Congress sided with terrorists: BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi
“On the anniversary of Veer Abdul Hamid’s martyrdom in 2015, PM Narendra Modi honoured his entire family, including his wife.
But during Congress rule, a terrorist like Yasin… pic.twitter.com/cc3z5a5u2R
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) April 3, 2025
Slamming the opposition for misrepresentation of facts, Trivedi said, “…Jaha Jaha Khuda Hai, Waha Waha Bhagwan Hai… Jo ye kehte hain ki Agra ka Qila, Delhi ka Qila, Hyderabad ka Charminar kiske baap ne banwaya, unke baap ka ye Hindustan nahi hai..”
#WATCH | “…Jaha Jaha Khuda Hai, Waha Waha Bhagwan Hai… Jo ye kehte hain ki Agra ka Qila, Delhi ka Qila, Hyderabad ka Charminar kiske baap ne banwaya, unke baap ka ye Hindustan nahi hai..”
– BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi in Parliament#WaqfBillAmendment #WaqfBoard #WaqfBill pic.twitter.com/E5OMnVseEp
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) April 3, 2025
Citing the details about the Muslim community, Trivedi said, “I want to talk about the Muslim community. Many people don’t even know the history of Muslims. When the numeric system first traveled from Bharat, it was Al-Zahrawi who, in 1793, translated Surya Siddhanta into Arabic as Sindh-Hind…”
#WaqfAmendmentBill | “…I want to talk about the Muslim community. Many people don’t even know the history of Muslims. When the numeric system first traveled from Bharat, it was Al-Zahrawi who, in 1793, translated Surya Siddhanta into Arabic as Sindh-Hind…”
– BJP MP Sudhanshu… pic.twitter.com/mokEM4VRR2
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) April 3, 2025
Trivedi’s Historical Perspective on Muslim Identity
During his speech, Trivedi drew a comparison between past and present Muslim icons, lamenting the shift in perception. He stated:
“When India gained independence, the Muslim community was represented by figures such as Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Fariduddin Dagar, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Hasrat Jaipuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Jigar Muradabadi. But today, some sections are associating Muslim identity with individuals like Ishrat Jahan, Yakub Memon, Mukhtar Ansari, Atiq Ahmed, and Dawood Ibrahim. Who is responsible for this change? It all started when India was declared ‘secular’ in 1976, leading to the rise of secular politics.”
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi :
"Muslim community's identity shifted from icons like Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain to figures like Mukhtar Ansari and Dawood Ibrahim." pic.twitter.com/Yz7Frtl13p
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) April 3, 2025
His remarks drew sharp responses from opposition leaders, who accused him of making communal statements. However, Trivedi insisted that his speech was meant to highlight how radical elements had overshadowed the contributions of India’s Muslim intellectuals, artists, and cultural icons.
‘UMEED’ vs ‘UMAH’: Trivedi’s Dig at the Opposition
Trivedi further took a swipe at opposition parties, claiming that the Bill provided “hope” to those seeking reforms but was disappointing for those aiming for a pan-Islamic political agenda.
“We have called this Bill ‘UMEED’ (hope), but some people dreamt of ‘UMAH’ (a unified Islamic nation). Those who wanted ‘UMEED’ are seeing a ray of hope, while those who aimed for ‘UMAH’ are visibly disappointed.”
VIDEO | Parliament Session: Speaking on Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi (@SudhanshuTrived) says, “… We have given this Bill- ‘UMEED’ name but some people dreamt of ‘UMAH’. ‘UMAH’ means an entire Islamic nation. People who wanted ‘UMEED’ are seeing… pic.twitter.com/I2uX98BT9J
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 3, 2025
His remarks drew applause from BJP members but were met with skepticism from opposition leaders, who accused the ruling party of attempting to create a political divide.
