With this, the Bill has now received full parliamentary approval, having already been passed in the Lok Sabha earlier.
The Waqf Amendment Bill has successfully cleared its final hurdle in Parliament, passing in the Rajya Sabha with a vote of 128 in favor and 95 against. This comes after two days of intense discussions and debates. With this, the Bill has now received full parliamentary approval, having already been passed in the Lok Sabha earlier.
In the Lok Sabha, the Bill was put to a vote early on Thursday, April 3, where 288 members supported it while 232 opposed it. It was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju a day earlier, on April 2, following the Question Hour.
The Bill sparked significant debate in the Rajya Sabha as well. The ruling BJP defended it, arguing that it aimed to support the Muslim community, especially those who are most in need. However, opposition parties from the INDIA bloc strongly criticized it, calling it unconstitutional and claiming it unfairly targeted the community.
Leaders from several opposition parties — including the Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, RJD, and the Left — raised strong objections to the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing the government of pushing it with questionable motives.
On the other hand, BJP leader and Leader of the House, JP Nadda, defended the Bill, saying it was not directed against the Muslim community. He said the goal was to support underprivileged sections and safeguard the rights of Muslim women. Nadda also criticized the Congress, accusing it of treating Muslim women unfairly during its time in power. He added that the Modi government took steps to empower them, such as banning the practice of triple talaq.
What is Waqf Amendment Bill? Explained in simple words
What is Waqf?
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Waqf is a piece of land or property that a Muslim person donates for religious or charitable purposes—like building a mosque, school, hospital, or helping the poor.
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Once something is declared as Waqf, it is meant to be used for the community and cannot be sold or gifted.
What is the Waqf Amendment Bill?
What are the main changes the Bill brings?
- Tighter Rules for Declaring Property as Waqf: Now, property cannot be declared as Waqf land if there’s already a dispute over its ownership. This helps prevent land from being wrongly taken over.
- Stricter Oversight: It aims to make sure Waqf Boards (the bodies that manage waqf land) work more transparently and cannot misuse their powers.
- Better Protection of Rights: The government says the Bill is designed to protect poor people and women, especially those affected by unfair practices related to Waqf properties.
Why is it controversial?
- Opposition parties claim the Bill could be misused to target the Muslim community or take away their rights over religious land.
- The government, however, says it’s meant to bring fairness and stop illegal claims over land, and support the poor and women.
