On Thursday, Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, accused the BJP of bringing the Waqf Bill to "divide the country" and promised to change it to make it void when a "new government is formed after ousting the current regime." Following a lengthy 12-hour debate, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill early on Thursday.
"When a new government is formed after ousting the current regime, we will bring a new amendment to nullify this Waqf Bill brought by the BJP," she stated to reporters.
"The BJP brought this Waqf Bill to divide the country," she said.
Banerjee criticized the BJP's "divisive agenda" in a statement released on Wednesday.
"To discuss the Waqf issue, my MPs are in Delhi. 'Jumla party' has only one goal: to split the nation. They're 'divide and rule' people," she said.
The opposition parties denounced the Bill as "anti-Muslim," while the ruling NDA vehemently defended it, claiming it would benefit minorities.
Following the protracted debate, the Bill was approved by a vote of 288 in favor and 232 against. Through voice voting, every amendment put forth by opposition members was rejected.
After passing the Lok Sabha, the Bill was presented to the Rajya Sabha.
