New Delhi: Parliament early Friday approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate.
There are around two dozen Waqf boards across India, owning some 900,000 acres (365,00 hectares), a multi-billion-dollar property empire that makes them one of the biggest landholders alongside the railways and the defence forces.
The discussion witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill “anti-Muslim” and “unconstitutional” with the government responding that the “historic reform” would benefit the minority community.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who tabled the bill on Wednesday, said it would check corruption and mismanagement and reduce the hold of a few entrenched groups.
The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
Parliament also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod. The Lok Sabha has already given its assent to the Bill.
Non-Muslims, who will be included in the boards as part of the new bill, will only be involved in “administrative” matters, Amit Shah said.
The Opposition INDIA bloc parties opposed the Bill, alleging that it was “unconstitutional” and aimed at targeting Muslims. They claimed that the aim of the legislation was to take over the properties of Muslims and hand them to corporations.
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights,” opposition Congress Party chief Rahul Gandhi said.
Gandhi called it an “attack” by Hindu nationalists which he charged was “aimed at Muslims today but sets a precedent to target other communities in the future”.
Leaders of several opposition parties, including the Congress, the TMC, the DMK, the AAP, the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Samajwadi Party, the RJD, and Left parties, alleged that the Bill was brought by the government with mala fide intentions. Some of them also demanded the withdrawal of the Bill.
