Opposition's Response to the Waqf Amendment Bill: Court Challenges, Protests, and Political Pressure; How Effective Will be These Measures?

The BJP-led NDA government at the Center successfully passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in Parliament after two days of intense debate. However, opposition parties and Muslim organizations have not accepted defeat and continue to oppose the bill. Those opposing the Waqf Bill have three options: resorting to the courts, protesting on the streets, or exerting political pressure. The DMK and Congress, have chosen to challenge the bill in the Supreme Court.

This raises the question of whether the bill can be halted through legal challenges or if the government can be pressured through protests. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the Bihar elections and whether the discontent among Muslim leaders in Nitish Kumar's party could be advantageous for the opposition. Following the passage of the Waqf Bill in both houses, five leaders from the JDU have left the party.

The opposition parties and Muslim organizations are now employing three strategies to oppose the Waqf Bill: legal action, protests, and internal pressure. The initial steps have been taken by Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi. Congress MP Mohammad Javed from Kishanganj, Bihar, and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi have filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Waqf Bill. They argue that the bill violates fundamental constitutional principles and civil rights.

Opposition's previous setbacks

The question arises whether the opposition will be able to stop the bill through legal challenge. If we look back, the answer to this is largely hidden in history. Earlier, the opposition has gone to the Supreme Court against Ram Mandir, Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, CAA. However, in all three cases the Supreme Court did not rule in favour of the Opposition. In such a situation, it seems that the reason for going to the Supreme Court is the Muslim vote bank, so that it can be shown that the battle was fought. Protests were held in many states against this bill, effigies were burnt. Uttar Pradesh is on high alert in view of law and order.

Oppn exerting pressure on Nitish

In addition to legal action and protests, the opposition is attempting to exert internal pressure on Nitish Kumar's party. The belief is that the BJP, holding 240 seats, could not have passed the bill without the support of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu's party. Now many opposition leaders claim that within 24 hours some Muslim leaders left JDU or slammed their own party for supporting the bill, due to which Nitish Kumar may come under pressure. At the same time, JDU made it clear that it will continue to stand with BJP on the Waqf Bill.

Prakash Kumar Pandey