The Lok Sabha had earlier engaged in a 12-hour marathon debate, during which the Opposition described the bill as “illegal” and “discriminatory.”
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, following its approval in the Lok Sabha with 288 votes in favor and 232 against.
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In his address to the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju criticized the Opposition for labeling the bill as “illegal” and assured that there is “no question of interference by non-Muslims.”
The Lok Sabha had earlier engaged in a 12-hour marathon debate, during which the Opposition described the bill as “illegal” and “discriminatory.”
Minister Rijiju highlighted that there are currently 8.72 lakh Waqf properties. He referenced the 2006 Sachar Committee’s estimation that 4.9 lakh Waqf properties generated an income of Rs.12,000 crore, suggesting that current earnings are likely higher.
Emphasizing the role of the Waqf board, Rijiju stated that it “will only oversee, not manage, Waqf properties.”
He explained, “The debate that took place in the Parliament on the Waqf Amendment Bill makes one thing clear: property worth lakhs and crores belonging to Waqf have been illegally occupied.
This bill has been brought to address the mismanagement in the Waqf Board… The properties under Waqf are those donated for social and religious works meant for the welfare of our Muslim brothers, and this law has been introduced to manage them. No one should have any doubts about this.”
Rijiju accused certain political parties of “spreading lies” due to vote-bank politics and clarified that all Waqf properties are intended for the Muslim community.
He asserted, “Some political parties are spreading lies due to vote-bank politics, but the Home Minister has made it clear that all Waqf properties are for the people of our Muslim community…”
Introducing the bill in the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju announced, “The bill includes the Right to Appeal. If a person is not granted their right by the Tribunal, they can file a petition in court under this provision.”
He also revealed that the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 will be renamed as the UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development) Bill.
On April 3, 2025, early morning around 2 AM, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 after a long and intense debate of over 12 hours.
The Bill had been introduced in the House on Wednesday, April 2, by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. It received support from 288 MPs, while 232 MPs opposed it, making it a close and heated matter.
While presenting the Bill, Kiren Rijiju made it clear that the proposed law does not interfere with any religious rights of Muslims and is only about managing Waqf properties better.
He said,
“If we had not come up with this legislation, even Parliament building would have been claimed as waqf.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to clear doubts about the amendment and said there was no interference in Muslim religious matters.
Rijiju emphasized that the Ministry of Minority Affairs drafted the bill after extensive consultations with stakeholders nationwide. He noted that 284 organizations provided their opinions, and over one crore people submitted memorandums regarding the bill.
Addressing concerns about inadequate consultation, he stated,
“Before the joint parliamentary committee was formed, many said that the consultation regarding it wasn’t enough. I want to say that before the Waqf Amendment Bill was introduced, the Ministry of Minority Affairs came to prepare the bill after taking in confidence the stakeholders, including the minority commission of the state governments.”
Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain criticized the bill in the Rajya Sabha, accusing the government of communal polarization. He claimed the bill was based on falsehoods and alleged that a misinformation campaign had been orchestrated over the past six months, with the BJP’s “fake factory” playing a key role in spreading misleading narratives.
Hussain questioned the requirement for proof of age-old Waqf properties, stating, “Those properties exist even today, and are in long usage… that is the proof of them being in Waqf… There is ‘Waqf by user’, temple by user, gurdwara by user… How will you ask for proof for all? How will you ask for proof of the age-old places… They are trying to incite riots and make their vote bank.”
In response, Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that while civil suits cannot be filed for Waqf property—a provision removed in 2013—writs can still be filed in High Courts, though their scope remains limited. He further asserted that 99 percent of tribunal orders are upheld.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders protested against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill inside Parliament premises, wearing black shirts as a mark of dissent. DMK MP TR Baalu stated that the party’s legislators were also wearing black in the state Assembly to oppose the bill’s passage.
He remarked, “To protest against the passage of the Waqf Bill, we are wearing black in the state Assembly as well as here (Parliament) in both Houses. We have also raised the issue of Katchatheevu, which was unconstitutionally ceded by the Government of India in 1976 when President’s Rule was in place. This has to be retrieved immediately.”
Minister Rijiju reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing mismanagement in the Waqf Board and ensuring that Waqf properties serve their intended purpose for the welfare of the Muslim community. He emphasized that the bill aims to bring transparency and efficiency to the management of Waqf properties, benefiting the broader Muslim community.
What Is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is a law that changes parts of the existing Waqf Act, 1995. The goal is to make the management of Waqf properties more efficient, transparent, and modern.
The original Waqf Act was made to regulate and manage Waqf properties – these are properties given for religious or charity purposes under Islamic law.
The Bill was first introduced in August 2024 and later sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which made some suggestions for changes.
Now, it has been officially passed by the Lok Sabha.
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