Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The Waqf (Amendment) Bill tabled in the Lower House of the Parliament on Wednesday, eventually passed in the early hours of Thursday with a majority of 288 votes against 232 after marathon debate that went on for almost 12 hours
The NDA and its allies put up a united front, rallying behind the contentious bill. In contrast, the INDIA bloc also seemed determined to oppose the bill, calling it “unconstitutional”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while intervening in a debate over the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) on Wednesday, targeted the previous UPA regime and delivered a sharp critique of the 2013 amendments to Waqf laws.
Describing them as politically motivated measures introduced in a hot-haste manner before the 2014 elections, he highlighted the significant consequences of these changes, including the “transfer of 123 VVIP properties” in Delhi’s Lutyens zone to Waqf authorities.
Prior to voting on Thursday, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju firmly defended his government against allegations of targeting the Muslim community and fostering divisions.
He stated: “You repeatedly claim our government acts against Muslims, yet it is you who perpetuated fragmentation by establishing separate boards for Sunni, Shia, and other sects. We proposed a unified board to foster unity.”
Amid controversies, the Minister emphasised the need for decisive action and accurate records. Referring to Parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi’s remark that the Bill is nothing but an insult to Muslims and why similar measures are not for Hindus, Rijiju noted: “Owaisi Sahab questioned why similar measures are not extended to Hindus. Provisions for Hindus already exist. For Islam, we are instituting measures for women and children, who are citizens of this nation.”
He added, “If someone claims ancestral land usage, the Waqf now demands proof. This transcends religion. Legal registration suffices, regardless of faith – all lands belong to the nation.”
Opposing the Bill, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi “tore” it.
Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, earlier on Wednesday morning asserted that the bill would be passed in Parliament and would bring significant benefits to the Muslim community.
In the House, Congress Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi strongly opposed the Bill, calling it an “attack” on Parliament and the Constitution.
He also alleged that the government had four “key objectives” behind the Bill, which he claimed “targeted” the Muslim community.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav also sharply criticised the government, saying that the introduction of the Waqf Bill symbolised its failures.
While participating in the debate on the Waqf Board Amendment Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha, he questioned the coherence of terms like “Unified Waqf Management”, suggesting that the Bill’s essence, whether articulated in English or Hindi, remained incomprehensible.
Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi on Wednesday assured that the Congress would revise the Waqf law when it comes to power in 2029 as the Lok Sabha witnessed a spirited discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as proposed by a JPC, and tabled by Kiren Rijiju for consideration and passage.
Meanwhile, all political parties from Jammu and Kashmir, except the BJP, opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying it is intended to disempower Muslims and only target one religion. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the Bill is not acceptable to his party.
Congress Spokesperson Pawan Khera has slammed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, describing it as not only “anti-Muslim” but also “anti-constitutional.”
Khera claimed that the Bill is a direct assault on the core principles of the Indian Constitution, particularly those envisioned by B.R. Ambedkar – “equality, federalism, and minority rights.”
K.C. Venugopal, Congress MP from Kerala, also launched a blistering attack at the Centre over the ‘discriminatory’ Waqf Amendment Bill and stated that the only motive behind this contentious bill was to push its agenda of hatred and dividing the country in the name of religion.
After the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, it will be tabled by the government in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. — With inputs from IANS
