Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 Passed After Heated 12-Hour Debate in Lok Sabha

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 became one of the most fiercely debated issues in Parliament on Wednesday, as the Lok Sabha held a marathon 12-hour debate before passing the bill early Thursday morning with 288 votes in favor and 232 votes against.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah sharply criticized the UPA government’s 2013 amendments to the Waqf laws, calling them politically motivated and rushed through before the 2014 general elections. He pointed out the controversial transfer of 123 VVIP properties in Delhi’s Lutyens zone to Waqf authorities, which he argued had led to the current bill’s necessity.

Shah stressed the need for accountability within the Waqf Board to prevent financial misuse. This view was supported by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who rejected allegations that the bill was anti-Muslim. Rijiju emphasized that previous governments had created divisions by setting up separate boards for Sunni and Shia sects, while the current bill proposed a unified Waqf board to promote unity.

Addressing concerns about non-Muslim involvement in Waqf affairs, Rijiju clarified that existing legal frameworks govern land usage across all communities and that proper documentation for Waqf properties would now be mandated to avoid disputes.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, however, vehemently opposed the bill, calling it an insult to Muslims and questioning why similar measures were not applied to Hindu religious institutions. Rijiju responded that laws already existed to manage Hindu religious properties.

JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal defended the bill, asserting that it would benefit Muslims and denying opposition claims that it was politically motivated ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. Despite this, Congress MPs like Gaurav Gogoi condemned the bill, accusing the government of targeting Muslims and undermining the Constitution.

In contrast, National Commission for Minorities Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura supported the bill, believing it would serve the larger interests of the Muslim community. However, opposition parties from Jammu and Kashmir, except the BJP, unanimously opposed the bill. Omar Abdullah, leader of the National Conference, argued that the bill unfairly targeted Muslims and sought to disenfranchise them.

While the bill has been passed, the debate continues to stir political and ideological divides across the country.