Andhra Pradesh's YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Friday, April 4, denied that it supported the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Parliament. YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader YV Subba Reddy challenged the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to prove its allegation that the YSRCP did not oppose the Bill.
The YSRCP issued a statement saying it issued a whip directing its MP to vote against the Waqf legislation.
The recorded proceedings of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha serve as clear evidence of their opposition to the legislation, it said. Additionally, the speech delivered by YSRCP MP Subba Reddy in the Rajya Sabha stands as further direct proof of their stance, read the statement.
Subba Reddy challenged the TDP to provide evidence that the YSRCP did not oppose the Bill. He questioned their ability to back up their claims. He further accused them of habitually engaging in politics based on fake news.
The YSRCP made public the whip issued to Rajya Sabha members, directing them to be present in the house at the time of the voting and vote against the bill.
Headed by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, YSRCP has four members in the Lok Sabha and seven in the Rajya Sabha.
Meanwhile, YSRCP leader and former minister Merugu Nagarjuna has slammed the TDP for supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it unconstitutional He said that Chief Minister and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu has enraged the minorities.
Nagarjuna accused Naidu of using diversionary politics to deflect scrutiny. He said the TDP leadership was spreading false claims that the YSRCP didn’t issue a Rajya Sabha whip and backed the bill.
Displaying the whip, Nagarjuna said YSRCP’s opposition, led by Subba Reddy, was clear in Parliament. He accused Naidu of betraying minorities after using them as a vote bank.