LOK SABHA PASSES WAQF AMENDMENT BILL AMIDST HEATED DEBATE.

Lok Sabha passes Waqf Amendment Bill with 288 votes in favour and 232 votes against, after a Marathon debate.

Sunidhi  Singh | New Delhi |  April 3, 2025:: The Lok Sabha today passed the Waqf Amendment Bill, now titled the Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UWMEED) Bill 2025, with 288 votes in favor and 232 against. The bill, which aims to enhance the management and oversight of Waqf properties, was passed amidst a heated debate between the Treasury and Opposition benches.

The stage for a fierce exchange was set when Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the revised version of the legislation. The Opposition, led by the INDIA bloc, remained steadfast in its opposition, asserting their united resolve to defeat the legislation.

Rijiju defended the changes, outlining key provisions aimed at improving the management and oversight of Waqf properties. However, the Opposition was unconvinced, with several members expressing concerns over the bill’s potential impact on the Muslim community.

The debate on the bill witnessed heated exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition benches, with the latter alleging that the legislation was unconstitutional and targeted Muslims. Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi termed the bill as “an attempt to attack the basic structure of the Constitution, defame minorities, disenfranchise them, and divide society.”

However, Home Minister Amit Shah, who intervened in the debate, assuaged the fears of the Opposition, stating that the government had no intention of interfering in religious matters. Shah emphasized that the bill solely aimed to ensure transparent administration of Waqf properties, which would benefit poor Muslims and women.

The Minister’s intervention came after Rijiju rejected allegations that the proposed law was an interference in the constitutionally guaranteed freedom in religious affairs. “It has nothing to do with religion, but deals only with properties,” Rijiju told the House.

The bill has been backed by some parties, including the TDP, JD(U), Shiv Sena, and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). However, the Opposition, including constituents of the INDIA bloc, staged a united show of opposition to the bill.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed the bill as a BJP ploy for polarization, warning that its adoption would send a wrong message to the world, denting India’s secular image. Yadav also predicted that the bill would be a “Waterloo” for the BJP, as some of its allies might be secretly unhappy with the development.

Shah rejected allegations that the appointment of non-Muslims in Waqf councils and boards violated a community’s right to manage its own affairs. The Minister warned Parliamentarians against instigating Muslims against the law, stating that everyone would have to accept the legislation once it becomes a law.

The debate saw intense arguments from both sides, with members of the Opposition accusing the government of attempting to interfere in the affairs of the Muslim community. The government, on the other hand, maintained that the bill was aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was absent during the voting. The passage of the bill marks a significant development in the management of Waqf properties in India.

The UWMEED Bill will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha for approval. If passed, it will repeal the Waqf Act, 1995, and provide for the establishment of a National Waqf Development Corporation.

As the Budget Session of Parliament nears its conclusion on April 4, the passage of the UWMEED Bill is seen as a significant achievement for the government. However, the Opposition has vowed to continue its opposition to the bill in the Rajya Sabha. During the debate, members from the Treasury bench referred to a large support from Christian and Muslim organisations for the Waqf Amendment bill, while members of the opposition mentioned the resentment of the Muslim communities on the bill in question.

Loksabha Speaker Om Birla declared the results as 288 votes of having registered in favour of the bill while 232 against.
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HINDU EXISTENCE WILL PRESENT POST ANALYSIS ON THE Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UWMEED) Bill IN DUE TIME.
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__Inputs from Agencies.