New Delhi, April 03: Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the early hours of Thursday after a 12-hour-long debate, with 288 members voting in favor and 232 against. The ruling NDA defended the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition labeled it as “anti-Muslim.”
All amendments moved by opposition members were rejected by voice votes.
Union Minorities Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said minorities in India are safe because the majority is entirely secular. The bill will now be taken up in the Rajya Sabha, where another extended debate is expected. According to PTI, eight hours have been allocated for the discussion.
The revised bill incorporates recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which reviewed the legislation after it was introduced in August last year. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, was also passed in the Lok Sabha.
Rijiju, responding to criticism, said the bill will benefit the poor in the Muslim community and that “crores of poor Muslims will thank PM Modi on the bill being passed.” He dismissed opposition claims that the bill is “anti-Muslim” and accused some members of ignoring the explanations provided by Home Minister Amit Shah.
“I want to thank all the leaders for sharing their views regarding the bill. Some are saying it is unconstitutional, but I ask them—if it were, why hasn’t the court struck it down? Words like ‘unconstitutional’ should not be used lightly,” Rijiju said.
The bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to address shortcomings in the previous act, enhance the efficiency of waqf boards, streamline the registration process, and incorporate technology in managing waqf records.
