‘Dragging India Into An Abyss’: Sonia Gandhi Slams BJP Over Waqf Bill, ONOE
New Delhi- In a fiery critique of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has labeled the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a “brazen assault on the Constitution” and urged Congress MPs to adopt an aggressive stance against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Addressing the CPP General Body meeting, Gandhi also took aim at the One Nation, One Election (ONOE) Bill, accusing the Modi government of systematically undermining India’s constitutional framework.
Gandhi’s remarks mark her first public response to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill’s passage in the Lok Sabha, where it secured a majority with 288 votes in favor and 232 against after a contentious 12-hour debate. The bill, now under consideration in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to reform the Waqf Act of 1995 by enhancing transparency and management of Waqf properties. However, Gandhi slammed the legislation as a calculated move by the BJP to deepen societal divisions. “The Bill is a brazen assault on the Constitution itself. It is very much part of the BJP’s deliberate strategy to keep our society in a state of permanent polarization,” she charged.
A Broader Attack on Constitutional Values
Extending her criticism beyond the Waqf Bill, Gandhi fiercely opposed the ONOE Bill, which proposes synchronizing national and state elections. She described it as “yet another attempt to undermine the Constitution,” warning that the Modi government’s policies are pushing India toward an “abyss” where constitutional principles would exist only on paper. “Whether it is education, civil rights and liberties, our federal structure, or conduct of elections, the Modi government is dragging the country into an abyss where our Constitution will remain on paper, and we know their intention is to demolish even that,” she said.
Gandhi accused the government of transforming India into a “surveillance state” and urged Congress MPs to intensify their efforts to expose these “failings and intentions.” “It is vital for all of us to continue to fight for what is right and just,” she emphasized, framing the opposition’s role as a moral and political imperative.
Claims of Parliamentary Suppression
The CPP chairperson also highlighted what she described as deliberate attempts to stifle opposition voices in Parliament. She pointed to instances where Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and LoP in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, were allegedly denied opportunities to speak. “This is quite extraordinary and shocking, designed to prevent the Opposition from raising their concerns that would put the Government on the spot,” Gandhi remarked. A Congress Rajya Sabha MP echoed these concerns, noting that such tactics were unprecedented and aimed at silencing dissent.
Gandhi further accused BJP MPs of targeting Congress-ruled states with “total falsehoods” during Parliament’s Zero Hour, a period typically reserved for raising urgent public issues. She called on her party to counter this narrative through aggressive public outreach.
Rebranding Accusations and a Call to Action
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi alleged that his government has been “rebranding, repackaging, and marketing” initiatives from the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure (2004-2014) as its own achievements. She stressed the need for the Congress to reclaim credit for these programs and expose the BJP’s tactics. “We must take this message to the people,” she asserted, signaling a renewed push for grassroots engagement.
Gandhi’s combative tone reflects the escalating tensions between the BJP and the opposition, particularly as contentious legislation like the Waqf Bill and ONOE stirs ideological and political fault lines. Her call to action comes at a time when the Congress is seeking to reassert its relevance amid a challenging political landscape.
The Road Ahead
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, now in the Rajya Sabha, and the ONOE proposal remain flashpoints in India’s polarized polity. For the Congress, Sonia Gandhi’s remarks signal a shift toward a more confrontational strategy, both within Parliament and beyond. As the opposition rallies against what it sees as an assault on constitutional values, the BJP defends its reforms as necessary for governance and national unity.
With the Rajya Sabha’s decision on the Waqf Bill pending and the ONOE debate looming, the battle lines are firmly drawn. Gandhi’s warning of an “abyss” underscores the stakes in this clash—not just for the Congress, but for the broader trajectory of Indian democracy.