Waqf Bill is unconstitutional, says Andhra Pradesh CPI leader Ramakrishna

CPI State secretary K Ramakrishna. File
| Photo Credit: G.N. RAO

Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary K. Ramakrishna has criticised the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for bringing the “unconstitutional” Waqf (Amendment) Bill to dominate religious institutions across the country.

“The Union government is now eyeing Christian properties and temple lands. The BJP poses a serious threat to the nation, and the CPI is prepared for large-scale protests against its communal and unconstitutional actions,” Mr. Ramakrishna said while addressing the media here on Sunday.

Mr. Ramakrishna said though the President had approved the Bill, the opposition parties were planning to challenge it in the Supreme Court.

“According to Article 26 of the Constitution, all religious institutions have the right to manage their affairs independently. But the BJP government at the Centre is trying to interfere and involve non-believers,” he alleged.

This would not stop here, the CPI leader said, and predicted attacks on Christian churches, properties, and religious practices in the future, on the lines of what was already happening with temple lands.

Mr. Ramakrishna condemned BJP State president Daggubati Purandeswari’s statements praising the Waqf Bill, triple talaq law, abrogation of Article 370, and construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.