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Waqf Amendment Bill tabled in Lok Sabha amid opposition: Key points

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The Times Of Indiapublisher-detail-arrow
02nd April, 2025 13:10 IST
NEW DELHI: The BJP-led central government tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Parliament on Wednesday amid opposition from INDIA bloc . The bill incorporates suggestions made by the Joint Parliamentary Committee that examined it. The House also took up the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for consideration and passing.

Waqf Bill to be named UMEED

Rijiju during his arguments in the House said that the Waqf Bill have been renamed as the Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Bill.

"The Waqf (Amendment) Bill that we have introduced includes several recommendations from the JPC, which we have accepted and incorporated into this bill. It is wrong to say that recommendations from JPC has not been incorporated in this bill. One very important aspect of this bill is the new structured system. Waqf Bill has been renamed as the Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Bill. This will give rise to a sense of hope," he said.

Amidst a big showdown, Union minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha and defended the proposed reforms. He questioned the criticism, saying, "Why are we being challenged when we are introducing positive changes? Those who have no direct involvement in the bill are being misled and provoked."

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Criticism from opposition

The debate on the bill began with Congress leader KC Venugopal, who opposed the bill, saying that the Centre was "bulldozing the legislation".

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates

"This type of bill ( Waqf Amendment Bill ) that you are bringing into the House, at least the members has to have the power to give amendments. You are bulldozing the legislation. This is this type of legislation. You need to give time for amendment. There are several provisions to be given amendment. There is no time at all," he said.

Shah takes jibe at Congress

To this, Union minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah dismissed the opposition to the bill, saying, "It was your (opposition) insistence that a Joint Parliamentary Committee should be formed. We do not have a committee like the Congress. We have a democratic committee, which brainstorms," he said.

" 'Congress ke zamane mein committee hoti thi jo thappa lagati thi'. Our committee discusses, deliberates on the basis of discussions and makes changes. If the changes are not to be accepted, then what is the point of the committee?" he added.

Meanwhile, Speaker Om Birla assured that amendments from both government and opposition received balanced consideration from him.

When RSP representative NK Premachandran raised procedural concerns, Home minister Amit Shah clarified that the union cabinet had approved the amendments within the bill, which stemmed from the JPC report. He concluded, "There is no point of order."

Waqf showdown: Rijiju slams INDIA bloc, Congress hits back

Cash-rich Waqf board but Muslims remained poor in India: Rijiju in LS
The proceedings continued with staunch reply from Rijiju to opposition. He highlighted that the JPC's consultation process was the largest ever exercise carried out by a parliamentary panel in India's democratic history.


He reported that the JPC received and reviewed more than 97.27 lakh submissions, including petitions and memorandums, through both physical and online formats before completing their report.

The minister noted that 284 delegations presented their perspectives on the bill, alongside Waqf boards from 25 states and Union Territories.

He mentioned that distinguished legal luminaries, charitable organisations, academicians and religious leaders, among others had also contributed their views.

  • "You tried to mislead people on issues which are not part of Waqf Bill," said minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju to the opposition in LS.
  • "A case ongoing since 1970 in Delhi involved several properties, including the CGO Complex and the Parliament building. The Delhi Waqf Board had claimed these as Waqf properties. The case was in court, but at that time, the UPA government denotified 123 properties and handed them over to the Waqf Board. If we had not introduced this amendment today, even the Parliament building we are sitting in could have been claimed as Waqf property. If PM Modi Govt did not come into power, several properties would have been de-notified," he said after introducing the bill.
  • "In 2013, right before Lok Sabha elections in 2014, there were some steps taken which will raise questions in your mind. In 2013, the act was changed to allow Sikhs, Hindus, Parsis and others to create Waqf. Everyone knows Waqf is for Muslims to create Waqf in the name of Allah. This change was made by Congress in 2013. Congress made the boards specifics, only Shias in Shia boards...A section was added that Waqf will have an overriding effect over every other law. How can this section be acceptable?" he added.
  • "Changes made in Waqf law by UPA govt gave it overriding effect over other statutes, hence, new amendments were required," he said.
  • "This bill, which we are discussing, is not new. The history of this bill dates back to pre-Independence in 1913 when the 'Mussalman Waqf Validating Act' was passed. Later, in 1923, the 'Mussalman Waqf Act' was brought in, which accounting and transparency were in focus. After Independence, in 1954, Waqf Act was incorporated. State Waqf Board was included in this Waqf Act, 1954," he added.
  • "Waqf property private in nature, unfair to compare it with land banks of Railways, armed forces," Rijiju asserted.
  • "Waqf Bill to be renamed as Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Bill," he announced.
  • "Now Shia, Sunni, Bohra, backward Muslims, women, and expert Non-Muslims will also be there in Waqf Board. Let me elaborate in detail. I'll give my own example. Suppose I am not a Muslim but I am minority affairs minister. Then I become Chairman of the Central Waqf Council. Despite my position, there can be a maximum of 4 Non-Muslim members in the Council, and among them, 2 women members are compulsory," he said.
  • "The provisions of the Waqf Board have nothing to do with the management of any mosque, temple, or religious site. It is simply a matter of property management. However, Waqf properties are managed by the Waqf Board and the Mutawalli. If someone fails to understand this basic distinction or deliberately chooses not to, then I have no solution for that," he asserted.
  • "There were some anomalies in this bill, so it was necessary to amend it. I had mentioned earlier that any any Indian could create a Waqf, but this was not the case in 1995. In 2013, you made changes, and now we have reinstated the 1995 provision, ensuring that only someone who has practiced Islam for a minimum of five years can create a Waqf," he said.
  • "The railway tracks, stations, and infrastructure belong to the nation, not just to Indian Railways. How can we equate railway property with Waqf property? Similarly, defence land, the second-largest landholder, is meant for national security and military training. How can that be compared to Waqf land? A lot of Waqf properties are private properties. That is why India has the largest amount of Waqf property in the world," he said.
  • "Cash-rich Waqf board but Muslims remained poor in India," Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha.
  • "When our country has the largest Waqf property in the world, why hasn't it been used for the education, medical treatment, skill development, and income generation of poor Muslims? Why has no progress been made in this regard so far? If this government, under the leadership of PM Modi, is working for the betterment of poor Muslims, then why is there an objection?," he asked.
  • "On our own WAMSI portal, we have reviewed the records. The Sachar Committee, which was formed in 2006 has also provided detailed information on this matter. In 2006, there were 4.9 lakh Waqf properties, and the total income from them was Rs 163 crore and after making changes in 2013, the income has income Rs 166 crores," he continued.
  • "Today, the total Waqf property has increased from 4.9 lakh to 8.72 lakh in our country. If these 8.72 lakh Waqf properties were managed properly, it would not only improved the lives of Muslims but also transform the destiny of the entire country," Rijiju told the parliament.



Waqf bill is anti-Constitution, says Gaurav Gogoi
Deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi opened the argument on behalf of the Congress during the debate after Rijiju tabled the bill. He alleged that Waqf bill is a deliberate effort to dilute the Constitution.

He accused Rijiju of misleading the House while referencing the UPA government’s actions in 2013 during his speech.


"This bill is not just about administrative changes; it is a deliberate effort to dilute the Constitution, defame minority communities, divide Indian society, and ultimately disenfranchise minorities," Gogoi said.

"Did the Minority Affairs Ministry make this bill, or did some other department make it? Where did this Bill come from?... Today, the condition of minorities in the country has become such that today, the government will have to give a certificate of their religion... Will they ask for a certificate from other religions whether you have completed five years or not? Why is this being asked in this bill? Why is the government interfering in this matter of religion," Gogoi asked.

'How many schools, hospitals built on Waqf land?' asks BJP's Ravishankar Prasad

BJP MP Prasad described the Waqf as merely a statutory body and questioned its contributions to public welfare.

"The Waqf Board is simply a statutory entity. How many schools and hospitals have been built on its properties?" he asked, challenging its role in serving the community.

Jibes and jests: A moment of political banter
Samajwadi Party chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav, during his argument over the Waqf bill, took a jibe at BJP that triggered a political tussle with a tinge of humor. He said, "The party that calls itself the world's largest party has not yet been able to choose its national president."

Replying to him, Union minister Amit Shah sarcastically said, "All the parties in front of me, their national president, will be chosen by only some family members. We have to choose from 12-13 crore members after a process. So it takes time. In your case, it will not take much time. I am saying that you will remain president for 25 years."

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