The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, for consideration. This bill incorporates suggestions from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which reviewed the legislation tabled in Parliament in August of the previous year. Alongside this, the House also began deliberations on the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, with Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moving both bills for passage.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, aims to improve the administration and management of waqf properties across India. The proposed changes are designed to address the shortcomings of the earlier law, enhancing the efficiency of Waqf boards, streamlining the registration process, and integrating technology into the management of waqf records.
However, the introduction of the bills was met with criticism from some opposition members. Congress leader KC Venugopal accused the government of attempting to “bulldoze” the legislation without providing adequate time for members to propose amendments. “You are bulldozing the legislation, you need to give time for the amendments, there is no time for amendments,” Venugopal said.
In response, Speaker Om Birla assured the House that equal consideration had been given to amendments from both government and opposition members.
Raising procedural concerns, RSP’s NK Premachandran questioned the process followed by the government. In defense of the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that the amendments had been approved by the Union Cabinet and were based on the JPC report. “There is no point of order,” Shah asserted, emphasizing that the necessary procedures had been followed.
Earlier, Kiren Rijiju addressed the media, reaffirming the government’s stance that the Waqf Amendment Bill was in the country’s best interest. “Today is a historic day. This bill is being introduced in the interest of the country, and not just crores of Muslims but the entire nation will support it. Those who are opposing it are doing so for political reasons,” Rijiju said.
(With ANI inputs)
