Waqf Amendment Bill: Lok Sabha Clears Proposal To Take Up Waqf Bill For Consideration After Vote Division

The Waqf Bill was recently cleared by the Union Cabinet after the amendments suggested by the joint parliamentary committee were approved. The 655-page report was approved by the parliamentary panel by a majority of votes. Around 11 MPs objected and submitted their dissenting opinions. One of the kye changes proposed in the Waqf Bill is the inclusion of non-Muslims in institutions such as Central Waqf Council, State Waqf Boards, and waqf tribunals. Under this bill, the Cnetre will have the power to appoint three MPs - two from the Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha, without them requiring to be Muslims.

Senior Trinamool Congress leader Sougata Roy confirmed their stand over the controversial Waqf Bill, he said, "AITC will join hands with the opposition to strongly oppose the Waqf bill and we will actively participate in the discussions surrounding the bill."

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva along with Minority Morcha workers, holds a placard protest near Parliament in support of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.

Sachdeva told PTI, “The Waqf Board Amendment Bill is for the welfare and rights of poor Muslims. This bill is especially for women whose rights have been taken away. Once this bill is passed, the corruption and theft in the name of Waqf will come to an end. Trust me, this bill is for those underprivileged Muslims whose rights have been denied for years.”

The Telugu Desam Party issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs asking them to be present at the bill's tabling and according to a press release, "The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has issued a three-line whip to all its Members of Parliament, directing them to be present in the Lok Sabha on April 2, 2025. This directive comes in light of the scheduled introduction of the Waqf Bill, which is expected to be a matter of significant discussion in the House."

Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs as the government is slated to table the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill in the lower house today. The party, which recently lost power in Delhi, is likely to vote against the bill. 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked Union Minister Kiren Rijiju to present the Waqf Amendment Bill, says "I have ensured equal time for amendments from both sides, without any differentiation."

Congress MP Venugopal Rao objects.

Union minister Kiren Rijijju moves Waqf (Amendment) Bill as proposed by JPC for consideration in Lok Sabha.

The discussion as allotted by the Centre for 8 hours begins.

Union Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah slammed the Congress in Lok Sabha during the Waqf Bill debate.

“The Cabinet approved a Bill and introduced it in Parliament. It was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee, as the opposition wanted. The committee took a call on it, and its recommendations went to the Cabinet. Kiren Rijiju ji is bringing its recommendations to the House. Our committees use their brain, unlike committees in the Congress times that just gave their stamp of approval,” he said.

- Indian Express

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, taking part in the Waqf Bill debate, said, “Some claim that the government will snatch Masjids and Dargahs — these were the people who claimed that Muslims’ citizenship would be snatched by CAA? Has that happened? Will you apologise for misleading people?”

Attacking the Congress, Rijiju said, "Muslims were misled for vote bank politics for 70 years; how long do you want to mislead them."

“We will welcome your suggestions when we make the Rules or subordinate legislation. We have changed the definition to ensure that Muslims can govern their own properties through thr Waqf Board or a Trust. We have become MPs not on the basis of religion. We represent all people of our constituency. How can we, then, ask how non-Muslims are being included in it? Because this is just property management; it is not about religion. Under this, a man can create a Waqf only on property fully owned by him. No one can deprive women and children of the family of their rights to create a Waqf.” he added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday whether Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray upholds the ideology of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray will be seen when the Waqf Amendment Bill is tabled in Parliament.

"Let's see if Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray will uphold the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray, the Hindu Hriday Samrat, or will continue to follow in the footsteps of Rahul Gandhi in appeasement politics," Fadnavis posted on X.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Chief Y S Sharmila Reddy on Wednesday condemned the Waqf Amendment Bill as an "attempt to undermine" the religious freedom granted to Muslims under the Constitution.

She called the bill a "plot" to suppress minorities and a violation of constitutional values.

The APCC president claimed that the bill was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's agenda to allegedly hurt Muslim sentiments, terming it a "black day" for India and a means to incite religious hatred.

In a post on X, Sharmila said, “The bill라이브 바카라 provisions allowing government officials to supervise Waqf properties and requiring documents for properties dating back 300 years are deeply concerning, adding that, the stipulation that individuals must follow Islamic practices for five years before receiving Waqf land is unacceptable."

The BRS on Wednesday said it will oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in its current form in the Parliament. BRS Working President K T Rama Rama Rao said his party will offer its argument on the floor of the House when it comes to Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The opposition party has no representation in Lok Sabha, but has four members in the Upper House.

“It will come to Rajya Sabha tomorrow. We don't have members in Lok Sabha. We have taken a decision to oppose the Bill in the current form. And we want arguments to be heard, because there are four or five sections within the Bill which we have objections to,” Rama Rao told PTI.

The CPI(M) on Wednesday announced its opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, proposed by the NDA government at the Centre and said the party MPs will vote against it in Parliament.

This stance comes amid protests from the Catholic Church, criticising MPs from Kerala for their position on the bill.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said, "Let there be no doubt, we will take a stand against the Waqf Bill. We have already made our stand clear. We do not keep changing our stand based on what others are saying. We have a clear stand."

YSRCP MP M Gurumurthy on Wednesday said the party will oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

"We will oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament," Gurumurthy told PTI.

The YSRCP, which has four MPs in the Lok Sabha.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has expressed strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, stating that it would be detrimental rather than beneficial for Muslims.

"The AIMPLB and other Muslim organisations have conveyed their concerns over the Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), but they were not considered. Following this, protests were held in cities, including Delhi and Patna, where demonstrators symbolically wore black bands to emphasise their dissent," senior executive member AIMPLB Maulana Khalid Rashi Farangi Mahali told PTI on Wednesday.

It would be detrimental rather than beneficial for Muslims, he said.

Responding to the protests against Waqf Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution. The changes made in the Waqf law by the UPA government gave it overriding effect over other statutes, hence the new amendments were required."

Odisha라이브 바카라 opposition party Biju Janata Dal on Wednesday said it will oppose the contentious legislation.<

The party said it had made some suggestions to be incorporated into the Bill which were rejected.

The BJD, which has seven members in the Rajya Sabha, will oppose the Bill, BJD라이브 바카라 Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sasmit Patra told PTI.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), a major organisation representing Muslims in India, on Wednesday said it will challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in court and take the fight against the "black law" that threatens the community's rights to the streets.

AIMPLB member Md Adeeb claimed it was an attempt to seize properties of the Muslim community.

Stating that the Bill was opposed during deliberations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up to review it, Adeeb said, "It should not be assumed that we have lost the battle. We have just begun. This is a fight to save the country because the proposed law endangers the very fabric of India."

He urged all conscientious citizens to resist the Bill and reaffirmed the AIMPLB's commitment to oppose it both legally and through public demonstrations.

"We will go to court. We will not rest until this (proposed) law is withdrawn," he added.

Security was tightened at sensitive locations of Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar as a precautionary measure, following the tabling of the Waqf Bill in Parliament on Wednesday, officials said.

A flag march led by District Magistrate Umesh Mishra and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abhishek Singh was conducted by the district administration in sensitive areas.

The march covered key areas, including the Khalapar locality, they said. Drone surveillance is also being carried out to monitor the situation. Authorities said the situation in Muzaffarnagar has been peaceful so far.

In Lok Sabha, Congress MP and Deputy Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi asked the central government, saying, "I heard the honourable minister on the day when this bill was introduced and today also. The day this bill was introduced, he said that there were comprehensive discussions over it. This is completely misleading. There was no mention of need of new Waqf (Amendment) Bill during the five meeting of Ministry of Minority Affairs. We have seen the minutes of these meetings. I just want to ask whether this bill has been made by Ministry of Minority Affairs or another ministry?"

Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "This country belongs to the Muslim community as much as it to the Hindus, there is no doubt in it. However, who will be ideals of the Muslim community?."

"People who do business of votes will be ideals of Muslim community. If this is so, then it won't be acceptable to the country. We want to say it humbly that ideals of the Muslim community will be Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr APJ Kalam, Abdul Hamid, Ashfaqulla Khan, Raskhan, Kabir, Malik Muhammad Jayasi. When fast bowler Mohammad Shami takes a wicket, the entire nation erupts in joy. When Sania Mirza makes India proud in tennis, everyone celebrates it. We felt that 'saudagiri' of votes will be stopped, but it didn't," he added.

Samajwadi Party president and MP Akhilesh Yadav speaks in Lok Sabha

He said, "I want to thank the honourable Speaker that the BJP government has bought for a large population of this country."

"My companions who spoke prior to me... they are not with us, but I agree with a lot of things that they said. I am also seeing that ex-Congress leaders are speaking a lot now," he added.

As the Lok Sabha was witnessing an intense debate on the Waqf Bill, the proceedings were lightened by an exchange of some humorous words between Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"BJP claims that it is the biggest party in the world but they have not been able to elect their president till now," Yadav said, drawing laughter from opposition benches.

Shah, then, rose to say "Akhilesh said it jokingly, so I will reply in the same manner. All the parties in opposition elect their party president among five members of the family. In BJP, 12-13 crore workers elect president through a process so it takes time. Akhilesh can be his party president for next 25 years and it won't be a problem."

Waris Pathan said, "We have said it before, we don't support the Bill, we oppose because it is unconstitutional, it is in violation of Article 14, 24, 25, 26 of the Constitution. The amendments proves that BJP's intention is not good. It was brought to grab the Waqf properties. It is a black law, dictatorship."

"The Waqf properties are 'Allah ki amanat', people have given them in charity, how can you interfere. Now they want non-Muslim in board, is it possible in boards of other religion? With the law, there will be special powers with the officers. There are many things which shows that it will not benefit Muslims. It is to finish Waqf. We want the Modi government to take back this Bill," he stated.

The CPI(M) announced its opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, proposed by the NDA government at the Centre and said the party MPs will vote against it in Parliament.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan indicated the party's stand while speaking to media on the sidelines of the 24th party congress being held in Madurai, Tamil Nadu from April 2 to 6.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti attacks BJP and said, "Since the BJP came to power in 2014, something or the sort has been happening against Muslims. Lynching, demolition of mosques, bulldozer actions are happening, now they are trying to overpower Waqf. The strength of the country is constitution."

"They are not having the faith in the constitution, if it was so, this would not have been happening. I feel the people of India, especially Hindu brothers should come out and support, if they will continue to be silent, the situation of Myanmar, Pakistan will be there in India. There is a big Hindu population who have been secular, BJP wants to finish it for the sake of votes. People of India have a regret that Kashmiri Muslims could not protect Kashmiri Pandits, we also have the regret, we could have done a lot. We have a lot of hope from Hindus of the country," she said.

On the Waqf Amendment Bill, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain says, “This bill will strengthen the property of Waqf. This will not pose any threat to anyone. Women will get representation in this… Waqf is for the poor and orphans. If someone else was taking advantage of this, their rights would definitely be snatched, and it would reach the common Muslims. Today the Waqf Bill will be passed.”

As the Waqf Bill discussion continues, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde says, "On behalf of Shiv Sena and my leader Eknath Shinde, I completely support this Bill. This is a historic and important day...First Article 370, then Triple Talaq and CAA, and now this Bill has been brought to this House for the welfare of the poor...I was pained upon hearing his (UBT's Arvind Sawant) speech. It was very shocking. I would like to ask UBT a question, they should ask their conscience whether they would have spoken the same had Balasaheb (Thackeray) been alive today. It is clear today whose ideology UBT is adopting today and opposing this Bill. They had a golden opportunity to rectify their mistakes, rewrite their history and keep their ideology alive...But UBT bulldozed their ideology beforehand...Had Balasaheb been here today and read UBT's dissent note, he would have been pained..."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has called for the withdrawal of the Waqf Bill. In his letter on Wednesday, Stalin has stated that the government must adhere to the COnstitution nd ensure each citizen has the right to follow their respective religion.

The Tamil Nadu assembly has already passed a bill against the Waqf Bill.

On the Waqf bill discussion, BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, "This is not a Bill but UMMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development). This UMMEED has empowerment, efficiency and development. Looking at this, the people of the country are supporting it. Several organisations like Catholic Bishops Conference of India, Church of Bharat, Kerala Council of Churches and Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council, All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council and Muslim Rashtriya Manch have supported it. I thank them for this. It is time to amend the Waqf because this has become a base of atrocity and corruption. It is time to end and amend this. India needs liberation from the fear of Waqf because the Waqf law formed during Congress regime meant 'khaata na bahi, jo Waqf kahe wahi sahi'..."

On Waqf Amendment Bill, Telangana Waqf Board Chairman, Syed Azmathullah Hussaini says, "We have opposed Waqf Amendment bill. The Central govt wants to attack the economic backbone of Muslims. The central government has brought this bill to take over Waqf properties, not save them. We again appeal to NDA's partners Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar and NCP's Ajit Pawar to oppose this bill. If this bill is passed, then matters will get complicated. If the government is trying to protect Waqf's properties, then they should give us judicial powers to do this. We hope this bill will not pass in Parliament."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "...Waqf Act and Board came into effect in 1995. All the arguments about the inclusion of non-Muslims inclusion are about interference in the Waqf. First of all, no non-Muslim would come into the Waqf. Understand this clearly...There is no such provision to include any non-Muslim among those who manage the religious institutions; we do not want to do this...This is a huge misconception that this Act will interfere with the religious conduct of Muslims and interfere with the property donated by them. This misconception is being spread to instil fear among minorities for their vote bank."

Addressing the Parliament during discussions on Waqf Bill on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I stand in support of the Bill introduced by my ministerial colleague. I have been carefully hearing the discussion going on since 12 noon...I feel that there are several misconceptions among several Members, either genuinely or politically. Also, through this House, attempts are being made to spread those misconceptions across the country..."

The term 'Waqf' means voluntary, permanent, irrevocable endowment made by a Muslim to a religious, charitable or educational cause under Islamic law. In India, law prohibits any other use or sale of the waqf property.

The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is to redress the issues and challenges concerning regulation and managing of the Waqf properties. Defending the amendment move, the ministry of minority affairs said that the main purpose of the bill is to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India.

Centre earlier said that the bill seeks bring improvement in the overall administration process of the Waqf properties by means of technology-driven management to ensure transparency.

Alongside introducing modern technology, Centre claimed that the bill also aims to rename the Act, update the definitions of waqf, improve the registration process.

Among the major issues regarding Waqf Board in India are the lack of diversity in the constitution of the board, irrevocability of waqf properties, lack of judicial oversight, and misuse of provisions.

Commenting on the Waqf bill being tabled in Lok Sabha, General Secretary, Jamaat Islami Hind, Andhra Pradesh, MD Karimudhin, said, “The question is that it is being tabled in the Parliament after it is being opposed by us. The democratic values are being destroyed… We appeal to the political parties and secular people to stop this Bill from being passed. In case the Bill gets passed... we have farmers' protest, NRC protest, we will also use our democratic rights to raise our voice.”

Supporting the amendment of the Waqf Bill, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said on Wednesday, "The concept of Section 40 - Waqf by User and Oral Waqf was a potent cocktail that enabled the Waqf Board to usurp any land that it wished. Those who had a problem with this were forced to go before the Waqf Tribunal. This Waqf Tribunal was a kangaroo court and its orders were final and you couldn't even go in appeal."

" On top of this, you had the Limitation Act, If you are an aggrieved party, you had only one year to go before the Waqf Tribunal whose order was final but if you are the Waqf Board, you had no Limitation Act applied on you; even after 500 years, 1000 years you could go and start a claim. This was the Frankenstein Monster that was created by the Waqf Act of 2013 where the Waqf Board was judiciary, legislature, executive all rolled in one, there was no concept of separation of powers", he further added.

Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid says, "The whole world knows that BJP makes Muslims remember their place. However, Congress stabs Muslims in the back with dragger smeared in sweet juice."

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a ``declaration of war against the largest minority in this country, by the Modi-led government''.

Owaisi said the bill was against the constitutional provision of equality of all religions as non-Muslims will be in the governing body for waqf, while this is not the case for other religions.

Commentoing on Home Minister Amit Shah's comments that `the Board and the Council are separate from Islam', Owaisi said if this was the case there was no need for `this law''.

On the provision entailing an individual practising Islam for five years possessing the right to declare a waqf, Owaisi asked how this will be determined “If he has a beard, will he be considered a practising Muslim ''.

``Asaduddin Owaisi calls the bill unconstitutional, but he has done the unconstitutional thing by tearing up the bill..I want to ask him why he tore it,'' he asked .

Rijiju gave the answer after the Lok Sabha debate on the legislation. He clarified That non-Muslims will not interfere in Muslims' religious matters. He says the Bill is not against the constitution `as claimed by the opposition'. ``We should not use the words constitutional and unconstitutional so lightly''.

``Will see if they follow Bal Thackeray or Rahul Gandhi'', PTI quoted Fadnavis saying.

Lok Sabha clears proposal to take up Waqf bill for consideration after vote division

Lok Sabha clears proposal to take up Waqf (Amendment) Bill for consideration after division of votes..

In a debate that lasted more than 13 hours, MPs representing the government and the opposition vehemently argued in favour or against the bill.

While the opposition called the bill `anti-Muslim', the government said it was for the welfare of ``marginalised Muslims'.

Home Minister Amit Shah clarified there was no `provision to appoint any non-Muslim member to Waqf. He also assured `there will be no interference in Muslims' religious matters'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi give the debate a miss.

The bill was tabled by Kiren Rijiju .