CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu's ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Thursday said it will challenge before the Supreme Court the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill passed by Lok Sabha with a 288-232 vote in the wee hours.

Wearing a black ribbon in protest against the passage of the Bill which he termed was against Muslims, Chief Minister M K Stalin told the Assembly that Tamil Nadu will fight against the BJP government on the issue of Waqf properties and emerge victorious in it.

"A majority of the political parties in India opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. It is condemnable that the Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha despite widespread opposition to its provisions. Though the Bill has been passed, nobody should overlook the number of votes against it," Stalin said, recalling that the Assembly passed a resolution against the bill last week.

Stalin contended that passage of the Bill at 2 am on Thursday in Lok Sabha with help from some alliance partners despite opposition from a majority of parties is an attack on the Constitution of India. "This is an attempt to disturb communal harmony in the country. Let me tell this House that the DMK will challenge the Bill in the Supreme Court," Stalin announced.

While moving a resolution against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on March 27, Stalin accused the BJP of framing policies that are aimed at deliberately excluding certain communities like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is nothing but another attempt by the Union Government to interfere in the religious administration of Muslims. The law, if passed, will give greater control for the government over Waqf properties thereby undermining their autonomy. This is against the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution," he had said.

Accusing the BJP of introducing "a divisive agenda" in governance, Stalin said the Bill would "create unnecessary legal hurdles for Waqf institutions" and "strip them of their rightful autonomy."