Parliament on Friday 4th April 2025 in the morning cleaned the WAQF Act (amendment) 2025 after almost 14 hours debate in Rajya Sabha 128 members who voted in favor and 95 against. | Photo Credit: Neither
Parliament in the Wee Hours of Friday (April 4, 2025) was cleaned up in the WAQF Act (amendment) 2025, after almost 14 hours of debate in Rajya Sabha 128 members voted in favor and 95 against. The government claimed that the law is not directed against Muslims, but instead it only puts on Waqf’s transparency, while the opposition claimed that it was aimed at reducing Muslims as “second -class citizens” and questioning the “intention and content” of the law.
The gap between the benches and the opposition of the Ministry of Finance was much narrower compared to Lok Sabha in the upper chamber, where it was cleaned on Thursday by a range of 56 votes. Previously, there was a amendment against the clause of the inclusion of non -Muslim members in the WAQF Council and the Central Waqf Council moved DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, which was negativated, with 125 votes against it and 92 in favor.
Some of the opposition deputies in the upper house wore black as a sign of protest against the bill. Minister of the Union for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijija launched his final remarks at 12:55, reiterating that the government had heard all opinions, reflected in the difference between the original law and what the parliament was cleaned. He argued that the opposition opposition objection against the inclusion of non -Muslim members in the WAQF Council and the Central Waqf Council as unfounded and unfounded.
Watch: WAQF BILL | Who supports it, who is against it?
He also rejected the comparison of the opposition to other religious endowments, where there is no provision on the inclusion of members from other religions. “Waqf Boards are statutory organs and not religious bodies, such as Hindu foundation plates. The legal body should be secular,” he said. He also again explained that the members of the non -Muslims in these administrative bodies cannot dictate the decision: “they are only contributing here”.
“I have repeatedly said that only four non -Muslim members could be in the WAQF Central Council … The opposition has still repeatedly raised this problem,” he said.
At the beginning of the day, the attack opened, Congress Syed Nasheer Hussain called it “targeted legislation against the Muslim community” and said he intended to make Muslims second -class citizens in the country. He claimed that the ruling party brought legislation in 2024 to strengthen its voting bank because it was able to win only 240 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
“They brought this act only for the municipal polarization. Everyone knows who benefits when municipal polarization occurs,” the leader of the congress said. He added that everyone knows which political party is trying to portray one community as a villain and stand against him.
Mr. Hussain, who pointed to the inclusion of non -Muslims in the WAQF Council according to the proposed law: “Do you allow me to be part of the credibility of the Hindu temple?”
Mr. Hussain asked about the provisions of the user, which was in the bill in the law, how the temples, churches or even gurudware that have been for centuries have been proof, which is required of WAQF real estate.
Referring to the statement of Mr. Hussain, the leader of the house in Rajya Sabha and the Minister of Health of the Union of JP Nadda attacked the congress and accused him of reducing Muslim women as “second -class citizens”. The government, said, believes in real service and not on the lips. He said he was looking at this question that other Muslim countries have brought reforms far before India.
Instead, he tried to attack the congress and quoted the practice of Triple Talaq, which remains legal in India, long after it was interrupted in many countries. “You made the Indian Muslim ladies second -class citizens,” Mr. Nadda said.
Opinion Is the time to reform Waqf
The opposition has selected various aspects of the law. RJD MP Manoj K. Jha, who emphasized the various incidents of minority abuses across the country, said the “content and intention” of the bill is questionable. Mr. Jha also stated that the provisions of Nomlim nominations on the WAQF Board of Directors are dressed as a secular clause, except for this provision is not available in the foundations of other religions.
Congress of MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi also pointed to the objection of the main Minister Andr Pradesh and the objection of President TDP Chandrababa Naida against the inclusion of non-hindus in the Tirupati Council. “If the non-Hindu cannot be part of the Tirupati album, as Muslims may be included in the WAQF board,” he asked.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Sanjay Raut said that it was surprising that the government expresses concerns about Muslims. “Concerns about the Muslim community that BJP and its allies supported the suggestion that Pakistan founded the founder (Muhammed ali) Jinnah,” he said.
During the debate, the Ministers and leaders of the BJP emphasized the lack of monetization of the WAQF properties. With a larger MEP of Samajwadi Javed Ali Khan, he said the 60% of the WAQF features are cemeteries. “The only trade in the cemeteries is dead,” he said.
Congress MEP Imran Pratapgarhi said that when Lok Sabha was busy passing a bill (amendment) late Wednesday on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced 26% of reciprocal tariffs in India and said the government would have to decide on its priorities.
In the afternoon in the afternoon AAM AADMI party Sanjay Singh that the government wants to protect WAQF assets all the time, allowing fraud in the temple properties and emphasizing fraud of 13,000 acres in Ayodhya, created a wave with loud protests from the grades. Many BJP deputies entered the streets and screamed at him.
Published – April 4 2025 03:11
