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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Follow Live updates below:
Live Updates
- 2 April 2025 3:27 PM IST
Waqf Bill is against Constitution: A Raja
Bill against Constitution and verdict given by courts: A Raja
- 2 April 2025 3:16 PM IST
Raja dares Rijiju, says will resign from Lok Sabha if proved wrong
Raja says, "I listened to the entire speech of the minister (Rijiju) and am amazed at where he got the courage to explore all the cock and bull stories he cooked. I dare him to go through the deliberations of the JPC and all the submissions made before the JPC. If he can point out anything from those submissions that have been accepted in this Bill, I will resign from the Lok Sabha".
- 2 April 2025 3:10 PM IST
Can non-Hindus be trustees of Kashi Vishwanath temple: Kalyan Banerjee
Banerjee says Bill's provision allowing non-Muslims to be on the Waqf Board is "unthinkable" and asks the government if it would allow non-Hindus to be members of trusts running temples like Kashi Vishwanath?
- 2 April 2025 2:51 PM IST
Can you decide if non-Hindus can give an endowment at a temple: Kalyan Banerjee
TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee strongly objected to the Waqf Bill's provision that mandates only a Muslim practising Islam for five years as eligible to create waqf.
"Who gives you the power to decide how I want to practise my religion, who I want to make an endowment to, how long I practice my faith for? Can you decide if non-Hindus can give endowment at a temple? Can you decide where I can or cannot make a donation?" he asked.
- 2 April 2025 2:45 PM IST
Waqf Bill part of BJP's agenda of polarisation: Harish Rawat
The Waqf Amendment bill is part of the BJP's agenda of polarisation, said Congress leader Harish Rawat.
- 2 April 2025 2:39 PM IST
TMC opposes Waqf Bill in its entirety: Kalyan Banerjee
Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress said his party opposes the Waqf Bill in its entirety. The Bill is unconstitutional, unlawful and divisive, he added.
- 2 April 2025 2:38 PM IST
Waqf Bill will prove to be BJP's Waterloo: Akhilesh Yadav
Akhilesh Yadav said the Waqf Bill is aimed at reconsolidating the votes that the BJP lost in the Lok Sabha polls and to appease supporters who are disillusioned due to the increasing unemployment and price rise in the country.
"This Bill will prove to be the BJP's Waterloo. Many of those supporting it publicly are not happy about it. We will vote against this Bill," Akhilesh concluded.
- 2 April 2025 2:34 PM IST
Neeti, neeyat both are wrong: Akhilesh Yadav
Speaking about the Waqf Amendment Bill, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said: "This Bill is nothing but a diversion to draw attention away from failures of this government, be it on unemployment, corruption, women's safety, agrarian distress, farmers' protests, condition of our rivers or anything else."
"The tradition of this country has always been to accept everyone. Our minister (Rijiju) comes from the minority community; he believes in Buddha dharm. We accept him too but they don't accept many things of our faith, they don't believe in our puraans and other dharm granths but we accept them. This is our tradition. On Eid, people of all political parties have always gone for a function (iftar) but I don't know why this year, some people from a political party were prohibited from going for these functions," added Akhilesh.
"They say this Waqf Bill will boost business. I want to tell them, religious things are not meant for karobaar (business). Their CM (Adityanath) did the same thing with Kumbh. Is Kumbh for karobaar? They say defence land is the land of the country, so I want to ask them — are they not selling defence land? I want to point out that our defence land has been settled with Chinese villages. It is to divert from all this that this Waqf Bill is being brought," the SP chief alleged.
Their aim, he said, is only to alienate and demonise Muslims, entangle their land in disputes. "Neither is their neeti (policy) right nor is their neeyat (intent)," he added.
