Parliament in the wee hours of Friday, April 4, 2025, morning cleared the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, after nearly 14-hour debate in Rajya Sabha by 128 members voting in favour and 95 against.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Parliament in the wee hours of Friday (April 4, 2025) morning cleared the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, after nearly 14-hour debate in Rajya Sabha by 128 members voting in favour and 95 against. The government maintained that the law is not directed against the Muslims, instead it only aims to bring transparency in administration of Waqf properties, while the opposition alleged that it was aimed at reducing Muslims as “ second class citizens” and questioned both “intent and content” of the bill.
The gap between the treasury benches and opposition was much narrower in the upper house in comparison to Lok Sabha, where it was cleared on Thursday by a margin of 56 votes. Earlier, an amendment against the clause on inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Board and Central Waqf Council was moved by DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, which was negatived, with 125 votes against it and 92 in favour.
Some of the opposition MPs in the Upper House were wearing black as a mark of protest against the bill. Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju began his concluding remarks at 12: 55 pm. He reiterated that the government had heard all opinions, which is reflected in the difference in the original bill and the one cleared by Parliament. He asserted the opposition’s overwhelming objection to the inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Board and Central Waqf Council unfounded and baseless.
He also dismissed the opposition’s comparison with other religious endowment boards where there is no provision of including members from other religions. “The Waqf Boards are statutory bodies and not religious bodies like the Hindu endowment boards. A statutory body should be secular,” he said. He also clarified again that non-Muslims members in these administrative bodies cannot dictate the decision, they are here only to contribute. “I have said repeatedly that in the Central Waqf Council of 22 members there can only be four non-Muslim members… still the opposition repeatedly raised the issue,” he said.
Earlier in the day, opening the attack, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain called it a “targeted legislation against the Muslim community” and said that it intends to make Muslims second-class citizens in the country. He alleged that the ruling party brought the legislation in 2024 in order to strengthen its vote bank as it was only able to win 240 seats in the Lok Sabha election. “They have brought this Act just for communal polarisation. Everybody knows who benefits when communal polarisation takes place,” the Congress leader said. He added that everyone knows which political party tries to portray one community as a villain and build a narrative against it. Mr. Hussain, pointing at the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Board as per the proposed law asked, “Will you allow me to be part of a Hindu temple trust?”
The Waqf By User clause which has been removed in the bill, Mr. Hussain, how will temples, churches or even gurudwaras which have been around for centuries bring proof, that is being demanded from Waqf properties.
Referring to Mr. Hussain’s statement, Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Health Minister J P Nadda attacked the Congress, accusing it of reducing the Muslim women as “second grade citizens”. The government, he said, believes in real service and not lip service. Giving a global perspective on the issue, he said, that other Muslim countries have brought in reforms far before India did. He instead sought to attack the Congress, citing the practice of Triple Talaq which remains legal in India, long after it was discontinued in many countries. “You made the Indian Muslim ladies second-grade citizens,” Mr. Nadda said.
The opposition picked on various aspects of the bill. RJD MP Manoj K. Jha highlighting the various incidents of mistreatment of minorities across the country said that both“content and intent” of the bill is questionable, he said. Mr. Jha also said that the provision of nomination of non-Muslims in Waqf board is being dressed as a secular clause, except such a provision is not available in endowment boards of other religions. Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi also pointed out Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP President Chandrababu Naidu’s objection on inclusion of non-Hindu in the Tirupati Board. “If a non-Hindu cannot be part of Tirupati Board then how can non-Muslim be included in Waqf Board,” he asked.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that it is surprising to see the government expressing concern for Muslims. “The concern about the Muslim community shown by the BJP and its allies supporting the bill will put Pakistan founder (Muhammed Ali) Jinnah to shame,” he said.
The BJP ministers and leaders during the debate highlighted the lack of monetisation of the Waqf properties. Countering this Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan said that 60 % of the Waqf properties are graveyards. “The only business transacted in graveyards is of the dead,” he said.
Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi said when the Lok Sabha was busy passing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill late at night on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced 26% reciprocal tariffs on India, saying the government will have to decide on its priorities.
In the afternoon Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh’s remarks, that the government is keen to protect the Waqf property all the while allowing scams in temple properties, highlighting 13,000 acres land scam in Ayodhya, created a ripple with loud protests from treasury benches. Many BJP MPs walked into the aisles shouting back at him.
Published – April 04, 2025 03:11 am IST