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 1:46 PM IST
"I want to tell their (BJP) friends in Andhra Pradesh (TDP and Jana Sena) that this Act overrides provisions of the Waqf Act of Andhra Pradesh. You (TDP, Jana Sena) will have to give an answer about this in Andhra Pradesh," Gogoi says.
- 2 April 2025 1:45 PM IST
The Congress deputy leader argues that the government is misleading by saying Opposition's views have been considered by the JPC. Gogoi says not a single recommendation made by Opposition was accepted by the JPC and that the JPC did not even bother to have Clause by Clause discussion on the Act.
- 2 April 2025 1:44 PM IST
Why do you want to taint a community that fought the British? says Gogoi
"What is the message this government wants to give with this Act? What is the signal this government wants to give to a community that was part of our freedom struggle? Why do you want to taint a community that participated in the Dandi March, fought the British's Divide and Rule? When you people (Sangh Pariwar) were not supporting the Quit India Movement, this community was participating in the freedom struggle...Their Act makes provision for UAPA offences to be invoked. I want to ask them, will they introduce such provision in Acts governing trusts or endowments of any other religion," Gogoi says.
- 2 April 2025 1:34 PM IST
Their gaze is only on land belonging to one particular faith: Gogoi
"Their intention is not to reform but to divert. They have diluted stern provision that existed in the previous law; they have diluted the minimum revenue generation clause of the previous Act from 7 per cent to 5 per cent while, if they truly wanted to boost revenue from waqf, they would have hiked this to 11 per cent as we had recommended. Their gaze is only on the land belonging to one particular faith, tomorrow it will be on the land of some other faith. They want disputes to be created across the country," Gogoi says.
- 2 April 2025 1:33 PM IST
'Govt assaulting secularism by banning non-Muslims from creating waqf'
Gogoi says the government snatching rights of people, assaulting secularism by banning non-Muslims from creating waqf and argues that the earlier provision allowing anyone to create waqf irrespective of their religion was "rooted in secularism".
