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.
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Follow Live updates below:
Live Updates
- 2 April 2025 12:54 PM IST
Rijiju cites revenue angle
Rijiju argues that though India has the world's largest share of waqf properties, these generate just Rs 3 crore of revenue. Even when the Sachar Committee report was submitted, it had estimated that this property can generate Rs 12,000 crore annually, he says. "Can this be allowed today? We will not allow it under any circumstances. With the kind of revenue we can generate from waqf land, India's destiny can be changed," says Rijiju. - 2 April 2025 12:51 PM IST
Bill brings transparency in waqf management: Rijiju
The Bill, Rijiju says, brings transparency in waqf management, promotes rights of women and children, and prevents both unilateral decisions of waqf boards and unnecessary litigation.Rijiju says some people say waqf has the third largest land bank in the country after railways and defence. He says this is a misleading argument because property of railways or defence is property of the country while property of waqf, the largest chunk anywhere in the world, is private property.He argues further that land for railway and defence is used for the country while waqf property, which lies in waste, is not even used in the interest of poor Muslims or Muslim women, adding that this anomaly can no longer be allowed to continue. - 2 April 2025 12:45 PM IST
Women mandatory on waqf boards: Rijiju
Rijiju says four non-Muslims, including two women, will be allowed to be on waqf boards and councils. He argues that no waqf board in the country today has women members.He says out of the 10 Muslim members also, two women are mandatory. - 2 April 2025 12:43 PM IST
Rijiju cites 3 court rulings
Rijiju quotes three judgments, one each by the Kerala High Court, Allahabad High Court, and the Supreme Court, to underscore that right to manage properties of mosques or temples is not a religious but secular matter, as they are purely managerial and administrative in nature and do not interfere with issues of faith.Rijiju reasserts that only a "person practising Islam for a minimum 5 years can create waqf" and that provision for non-Muslim experts on waqf boards will stay in the Bill. - 2 April 2025 12:40 PM IST
Govt doesn't mean to violate rights: Rijiju
Rijiju says: "If this Bill was not brought then even this place where we are sitting today would have been claimed as Waqf."Opposition rises in protest, asking the minister to authenticate the basis of his claims.The minister says those talking of the Bill being unconstitutional are misleading the public. He adds that this Bill is meant to regulate working of Waqf Boards and that "waqf boards do not, in any way, control endowments, Muslim sites or other endowments but merely manage the properties under waqf".Rijiju adds that the Constitution guarantees equality and right to practice one's religion and through this Bill the government doesn't mean to violate either of these rights. - 2 April 2025 12:29 PM IST
Rijiju explains need for Bill
Rijiju dismisses Opposition's charge of the Bill being "unconstitutional and illegal". "No one said this Bill is unconstitutional or unlawful when the Waqf Act came into being in 1954 or till 1995 when amendments to it were made from time to time. Today they are finding it unconstitutional because we are bringing this Bill".The Minority Affairs Minister says need for the Bill arose because of the kind of changes brought to the Waqf Act in 2013 with an eye on elections to enable anyone, including non-Muslims, to make endowments (waqf) even though Waqf is supposed to be exclusively made by Muslims. - 2 April 2025 12:27 PM IST
Rijiju opens discussion on Waqf Bill
Rijiju opens discussion. "The kind of extensive consultations JPC has had on the Waqf Bill have never taken place in the history of Parliament. Over 27 lakh recommendations and suggestions on the Bill have been scrutinized by the Centre and the JPC. 25 state governments and UTs have also shared their views with the JPC," says Rijiju.
