New Delhi: The controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday after a marathon 12-hour debate. The bill, introduced by the Modi government, received 288 votes in favor and 232 votes against, following a tense exchange between the government and opposition.
The bill has sparked significant debate, with the government asserting that it will benefit minorities, while the opposition condemns it as “anti-Muslim.” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the bill, stating that the previous Congress-led UPA government had nearly allowed the Waqf board to take control of several important properties, including the Parliament building. He emphasized that the amendment was necessary to prevent such takeovers.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also supported the bill, citing instances where properties, such as those in Delhi’s Lutyens zone and Tamil Nadu, were wrongfully transferred to Waqf. He argued that the amendments would curb land grabbing and bring transparency to the management of Waqf properties.
Opposition parties, including Congress and the Samajwadi Party, criticized the bill. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi questioned the government’s interference in religious matters, while Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of using the bill to deflect attention from its failures.
The bill will now move to the Rajya Sabha for further debate, with eight hours allocated for discussion in the upper house.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to update the Waqf Act, 1995, to improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India. It also seeks to repeal the outdated Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, to ensure uniformity and transparency in managing these properties.
