SP chief Akhilesh questioned BJP’s leadership delay, Amit Shah defends the party’s democratic process

Samawadi Party chairman Akhilesh Yadav flew over the BJP, questioning its delay in choosing a presidential election. File | Image source: PTI

Samawadi Party Chairman Akhilesh Yadav flew past the BJP on Wednesday (2 April 2025), questioning its delay in choosing a presidential election. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded sharply, the BJP followed a democratic process involving members, and unlike other parties, leaders were decided by their families.

In a speech by Lok Sabha Yadav, “The party that claims to be the largest party in the world has not yet chosen its country’s president.”

Speaking at Lok Sabha, he criticized the BJP and asserted that the controversial WAQF amendment was introduced to divert attention to the shortcomings of the government. “Whenever the BJP brings a new bill, it’s an attempt to cover up its own failure,” he said.

Mr. Shah responded to Mr. Yadav’s remarks, defended the BJP’s selection process and asserted that the party was based on democratic principles.

“All the gatherings before the president of my country will be chosen only by some family members. We have to choose from 12-13 million members after a process. So it takes time. In your case, it won’t take much time. I say you will be president for 25 years…”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday (2 April 2025), Lok Sabha considered the WAQF (Amendment) bill of 2025, which incorporated recommendations from the joint parliamentary committee that investigated the bill in Parliament last August. The House also occupied the Mussalman Wakf (revoked) bill of 2024 for consideration and passage.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved into both bills to pass the House.

Congressman KC Venugopal accused the government of trying to promote the bill, saying they didn’t give them enough time to move their amendments.

Speaker Om Birla said he had equal considerations for the amendment to the government and opposition members.

Home Secretary Amit Shah said the coalition cabinet has approved an amendment that has been incorporated into the bill as RSP’s NK Premachandran raises some objections to the government’s procedures to which the bill is adopted. He said the amendment was based on the JPC report. “There is no order,” he said.

Mr Rijiju told the media earlier that the bill was in the interests of the country.

“Today is a historic day, and today, the WAQF amendment will be proposed in Lok Sabha. The bill was introduced for the benefit of the country. Not only Muslims, but the entire country will support it. Those who oppose the bill are for political reasons.”

The bill was earlier proposed in Lok Sabha in August last year and was reviewed by a joint parliamentary committee led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal.

The bill aims to amend the 1995 bill and aims to improve the management and management of WAQF properties in India. Its purpose is to overcome the shortcomings of the previous behavior and to improve the efficiency of the WAQF board, improve the registration process and improve the role of technology in managing WAQF records.