The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 on April 2, 2025, with 288 votes in favor and 232 against. The House also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill 2024, repealing the Mussalman Wakf Act 1923.
Key Provisions and Government’s Stand:
- Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the bill, stating that it focuses solely on Waqf properties and aims to make Waqf Boards more inclusive and transparent.
- The bill mandates representation from different Muslim sects and women in Waqf Boards.
- Rijiju criticized the 2013 amendments under the UPA government for allowing misuse of Waqf laws and questioned why, despite India having the highest number of Waqf properties globally, Indian Muslims remain economically disadvantaged.
Opposition’s Criticism:
- Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi called the bill unconstitutional and alleged it was an attempt to defame minorities and divide society.
- Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of using the bill to divert attention from economic issues like unemployment and inflation.
- TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee, DMK’s A Raja, and other opposition leaders criticized the bill, calling it anti-minority and an attack on Muslim rights.
Government’s Response:
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that non-Muslims will not manage Waqf properties, dismissing fears of interference in religious practices.
- He argued that the bill aims to prevent land mismanagement and enhance transparency, blaming the Congress for past misuses of Waqf-related laws.
- BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized that the bill promotes gender justice by ensuring women’s representation in Waqf Boards.
Support from Other Parties:
- TDP’s Krishna Prasad Tenneti supported the bill, highlighting the mismanagement of Waqf properties worth ₹1.2 lakh crore.
- JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh asserted that the bill ensures justice for all sections of Muslims while curbing misuse of Waqf properties.
- Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde referred to the legislation as “UMEED” (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development), aimed at uplifting minorities.
The bill’s passage marks a significant move in reforming Waqf property management, though controversy and political opposition remain strong.
