'Congress and BJP are equally guilty': Mayawati slams Rahul Gandhi for silence on Waqf Bill in Parliament

NEW DELHI: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Saturday directed her attack at leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, for remaining silent during the debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament.
In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister questioned Gandhi's decision not to speak on the contentious Bill, despite widespread opposition to it.
"Despite the opposition denouncing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and dubbing it as a case of flouting the Constitution like the CAA, is the decision of the LoP in Lok Sabha to not speak on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the House despite the fact that there was an extensive debate on the issue justified?" she wrote.

She added, "In any case, the Congress and the BJP are equally guilty of virtually depriving the Dalits of welfare, government jobs, education by virtually making the reservation rights ineffective and redundant".

Mayawati said the Bill has sparked anger among Muslims and frustration among INDIA bloc partners. She further accused both the Congress and BJP of failing the Dalit community by rendering reservation rights ineffective and limiting access to welfare, education, and government jobs.
“It’s important for religious minorities to recognise the ongoing deception by these parties,” she added.
The BSP leader also criticised the growing trend of privatisation in the power and other sectors, warning that the government must fulfill its constitutional responsibility to safeguard public welfare. She accused the BJP of undermining the law while marginalising Bahujan communities.
Earlier, on Thursday, Mayawati had urged the Centre to suspend and review the new Waqf law. She raised concerns about a key provision in the amended Act that allows non-Muslims to be included in Waqf Boards, saying it "prima facie does not appear appropriate."
The Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 received President Droupadi Murmu’s assent on April 5 and was officially notified by the Centre on Tuesday. It was passed after heated debate, with 288 MPs voting in favour and 232 against in the Lok Sabha, and 128 supporting it in the Rajya Sabha while 95 opposed.