The Waqf Amendment Act has sparked a new political flashpoint, with the Congress party stepping up to challenge what it calls an assault on India’s secular framework. Former Manipur Chief Minister and senior Congress leader O. Ibobi Singh minced no words in condemning the Act, branding it “unconstitutional” and a “blatant violation of religious freedom.”
In a press briefing held at Congress Bhavan on 12th April, Ibobi Singh emphasized the foundational values of the Indian Republic. “India was built on secular ideals post-independence, and those ideals are clearly stated in our Constitution. Yet, with each passing amendment, the NDA government is moving further away from those principles,” he said.
The Congress isn’t stopping at criticism. Backed by top leaders at the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the party is preparing to take the matter to the Supreme Court. The legislation, although cleared by both Houses of Parliament, faces staunch resistance, particularly from states like Manipur, where the local Congress unit is actively rallying against it.
Sources within the state party confirmed that two senior leaders are slated to head to New Delhi soon to file a legal petition. “We are committed to defending the Constitution,” said Ibobi Singh, adding that the Act could fuel unrest if left unchecked.
“The BJP-led NDA is relying on divide-and-rule politics,” he claimed, signaling a broader political battle ahead.
With legal proceedings looming and political rhetoric heating up, the Congress is expected to ramp up both courtroom and street-level efforts in the days to come.
