Waqf (Amendment) Bill: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have issued three-line whips to their Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs), mandating their presence in the House on April 2, 2025. The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is pushing for the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, setting the stage for an intense political confrontation with the opposition-led INDIA bloc.

The Samajwadi Party has also issued a similar directive to its MPs, ensuring a full-strength presence in the Lok Sabha. The Parliament’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has allocated eight hours for discussion on the bill, with Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expected to introduce it around noon.

Shiv Sena and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has also issues a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs, mandating their presence in the House on April 2 and 3 to support the government’s stance.

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What is the ‘whip’ system?

A whip is a formal directive issued by a political party to its members in a legislative house, instructing them on how to vote or mandating their presence. It plays a crucial role in parliamentary proceedings, ensuring party discipline and strategic voting.

  1. A one-line whip is advisory, informing members about an important vote.
  2. A two-line whip instructs members to be present in the House during the vote.
  3. A three-line whip, the strictest form, mandates attendance and adherence to the party’s stance. Violating a three-line whip can lead to disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The BJP’s chief whip, Sanjay Jaiswal, and Congress’ chief whip, K Suresh, issued the directives to their respective MPs. Both whips emphasise the Bill’s significance and the need for absolute attendance.

Opposition concerns and protests

The Congress party has directed its MPs to remain present from April 2 to April 4, signaling its strong opposition to the Bill. During the BAC meeting, Congress and other INDIA bloc members staged a walkout, alleging that the government was curbing opposition voices. Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi accused the ruling party of limiting debate time and ignoring requests to discuss other pressing issues, including the situation in Manipur and electoral concerns.

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Government’s strategy on Waqf Bill

Despite opposition protests, the Bill is expected to pass, as the NDA holds a clear majority in the Lok Sabha with 293 MPs out of 542. The BJP has also successfully garnered support from independent members and smaller parties, strengthening its position.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has previously questioned the necessity of issuing whips, arguing that they restrict legislators’ freedom. However, the Supreme Court has upheld the binding nature of whips, emphasising that lawmakers must adhere to their party’s stance in critical votes.

(With PTI inputs)