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:
Waqf Bill: History will never forgive this betrayal, Owaisi tells Naidu, Nitish
Waqf bill: Congress issues whip to its Lok Sabha MPs for next 3 days
Waqf bill showdown: INDIA bloc holds meeting to formulate joint strategy
Follow Live updates below:
Live Updates
- 2 April 2025 1:16 PM IST
Party MPs will vote against Waqf Amendment Bill: CPI(M)
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 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.
Govindan also brushed aside the stand taken by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) on the issue, saying it will not affect the party's view on the matter.
"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," he said.
Meanwhile, the BJP in Kerala will be holding marches to the residences of all INDIA bloc MPs in the state during the day in protest against their opposition to the Waqf Bill, the saffron party said in a statement.
- 2 April 2025 1:14 PM IST
Rijiju says Christian community backing Bill because of misuse of earlier Act
Rijiju says the government will not allow creation of waqf property in tribal areas protected under Schedule V and VI of the Constitution. He adds that in keeping with suggestion of JPC waqf tribunals will have 3 members instead of 2 members as proposed earlier and that verdict of tribunals on waqf property can be challenged in courts. The Limitation Act will also apply now to Waqf but prospectively from the date of the Bill being enacted.
Rijiju argues that the Christian community has come out in support of the Bill across the country because the earlier Act was being misused to claim lakh of properties as Waqf everywhere. He taunts the Opposition, daring them to take a stand against the Bill and then "face consequences in Kerala" where Christians are caught in legal disputes over churches claimed as waqf properties.
- 2 April 2025 1:05 PM IST
Opposition misleading the country: Rijiju
Rijiju says state governments will be given full authority for waqf oversight while Centre will only facilitate and monitor. He assures Opposition that its views will be accommodated when rules for operationalising the Bill are formulated.Rijiju says, "We have not become MPs because of any religion or caste and likewise waqf boards can't function in a way where they exclude non-Muslims."He also rejects allegations that the government is trying to "encroach and snatch away" waqf property. The Bill is "prospective, not retrospective", Rijiju says, adding that properties already disputed and under litigation not covered in the Bill as their ownership will be decided by courts.Rijiju says Opposition misleading the country on Waqf Bill the same way it misled on CAA. - 2 April 2025 1:03 PM IST
Bill will empower women, end corruption: Rijiju
Rijiju says many recommendations of JPC have been incorporated in the Bill and Opposition is misleading by claiming that their recommendations were not included.This Bill will give new Umeed (hope; also the acronym for the Bill) to people, says Rijiju, asserting that the Bill will improve management of waqf, empower women, children and all sects of Islam, including Shias, create transparency, end corruption and improve compliance.
