Congress workers during a protest rally against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, in Kolkata, on Thursday. PTI Photo
LIVE | Rajya Sabha passes Waqf Bill (128-95)
While the Opposition questioned the timing and intent of the govt, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju reiterated that the Bill won’t step on the rights of the Muslim community
After a 13-hour debate, the Rajya Sabha has cleared the controversial Waqf Bill, with by 128 members voting in favour and 95 against.
The government maintained that the bill is not directed against Muslims, instead it only aims to bring greater transparency in the administration of Waqf properties, but the Opposition said it's a ploy to alineate the minority community.
While the Opposition MPs questioned the timing and intent of the Bill, Union Minister JP Nadda defended the Centre’s stand, wondering why India’s can’t do it when even Muslim countries like Iraq have amended the Waqf law.
In another development, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which earlier announced to oppose and vote against the contentious Bill urged its members to “exercise their conscience” during voting and chose not to issue any whip.
Also read:
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Live Updates
- 2 April 2025 6:38 PM IST
Waqf Bill will not have retrospective effect: Amit Shah
“I also want to assure you that this Bill will come into effect only from the day it is enacted and not retrospectively,” said the home minister.
- 2 April 2025 6:33 PM IST
Christian organisations have supported this Bill: Amit Shah
“These MPs from South who are opposing the Bill don’t know that they are upsetting the Christians in their constituencies because all Christian organisations have supported and welcomed this Bill. And those who are opposing the Bill thinking they will get support of Muslims, I want to tell you, this will also not happen because in the next 4 years, Muslims will also understand that this Bill is in their favour,” said Amit Shah.
- 2 April 2025 6:30 PM IST
Our aim is to generate revenue from waqf for Muslims' welfare: Amit Shah
Union home minister Amit Shah said, “Waqf is a charitable endowment and the main point here is that it is a charity or donation. So, someone can only donate what belongs to him. Now, Waqf boards and councils came into existence only in 1995, they never existed before that.
Today, there is an attempt to mislead about Waqf board and create fear among minorities by saying non-Muslims will regulate Waqf. This is not the case. Waqf Board is only a statutory body, like a trust. The mutawwali who is like managing trustee will remain a Muslim and person making waqf will have to be a practising Muslim because Waqf is an Islamic practice. Those running the trust or waqf board are doing administrative work, not religious work. So why can't they be non-Muslim?
Our aim is to use waqf to generate revenue that can be used for welfare of Muslims and not the present system where waqf is used for corruption.”
- 2 April 2025 5:44 PM IST
Why is PM Modi adamant? AIMIM asks
AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is adamant on bringing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill when Muslims of the country don't want the bill.
"This is a black law, withdraw it. We'll protest. When Muslims of the country don't want this bill to pass, don't want it to become a law, then why is Modi so adamant on bringing this bill and making it a law?" he asked.
(Inputs from ANI)
- 2 April 2025 5:32 PM IST
Direct assault on Babasaheb Ambedkar's vision: Congress's Pawan Khera
Pawan Khera, chairman of Congress’s Media and Publicity Dept, posted on X:
The Waqf Amendment Bill brought by this fascist government isn’t just anti-Muslim, it’s ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL as well. This is a direct assault on Babasaheb Ambedkar’s vision of equality, federalism, and minority rights. Here’s why every party and individual who claims to stand for secularism and democracy must oppose this Bill:
1. Violation of Article 26: By giving state government officer the power to decide waqf disputes (Sec 3C), the government is bulldozing Waqf Board autonomy, a direct interference in religious affairs and a violation of Article 26 of the constitution.
2. Forced “inclusion” of non-Muslims in Waqf Board: violates Art. 30. That guarantees minorities the right to self-manage their institutions
3. 5-year loyalty test to create a waqf: The Bill states that only Muslims who have practiced Islam for five years can endow property (Sec 3(r)). Since when does the state decide who is a “real” Muslim? This violates Article 14 (arbitrary classification) and Article 25 (state dictating religious practice).
4. Removal of ‘waqf by user’, killing centuries-old tradition: This erases a historical custom rooted in Muslim personal law. Article 29 protects minority traditions, why is the BJP hell bent on rewriting religious jurisprudence?
5. The Bill forces central control over state regulations: The Bill mandates a centralized digital portal (Section 3B) for waqf property registration, stripping states of their traditional record-keeping systems. This bill also mandates only 6 months for the registration of properties on waqf portal. This not only violates State autonomy (Concurrent List, Entry 28) but also Babasaheb’s vision of federal democracy.
6. The real agenda behind the bill? Waqf land grab. Sec 3C of the bill allows state government officers to declare waqf properties as government land based on vague inquiries. With no clear criteria, this is a recipe for mass dispossession. This means, thousands of waqf-run schools, mosques, and hospitals could be seized overnight. With a single stroke, BJP intends to scrap multiple Constitutional provisions like: Religious freedom (Articles 25-26), Minority rights (Articles 29-30), Federalism (Article 246), Equality (Article 14).
