Waqf Bill passes Lok Sabha after heated debate

In a dramatic midnight vote following a 12-hour marathon debate, the Lok Sabha passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The ruling BJP touted it as a transparency reform, while the Opposition denounced it as an attack on the Muslim community's rights.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed allegations that the Bill infringes upon religious freedoms, arguing that it introduces much-needed safeguards to prevent illegal land acquisitions under the guise of waqf declarations. "No one’s land will become waqf by mere declaration. This Bill protects ASI land, tribal lands, and private properties," Shah asserted.

The Opposition, led by Congress, accused the BJP of using the legislation to marginalize Muslims and undermine their personal laws and property rights. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, called the Bill a "weapon to usurp Muslim rights," warning that it could set a precedent for targeting other communities in the future.

During the heated exchange, Shah accused the Opposition of fear-mongering for political gain. "We are not scaring Muslims; you are. No citizen of this country, irrespective of religion, will be harmed," he stated, insisting that the Bill does not interfere in religious practices.

The government defended the amendments, stating that the Bill ensures better governance of waqf properties while preventing large-scale irregularities. Shah pointed out that waqf lands expanded by 21 lakh acres between 2013 and 2025 under questionable circumstances. "Where did these properties go? Who authorized their sale? This Bill aims to safeguard these assets for the poor Muslims of this country, not for vested interests," he said.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the Bill, emphasized the need for reform. "The government is not interfering in religious practices. This is about property management," he said, citing court rulings that classified waqf property management as a secular function.

BJP leaders also targeted the previous UPA government for alleged waqf-related irregularities. Rijiju claimed that in 2013, the Congress government handed over 123 properties in Delhi to the Waqf Board "for vote bank politics." He also questioned why previous waqf boards lacked women members, highlighting that the new Bill mandates their inclusion.

The BJP framed the Bill as a fight against corruption, with Anurag Thakur accusing past governments of running waqf boards with opaque financial dealings. "No book of accounts, whatever the waqf says is correct — this was Congress' approach," Thakur charged.

Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad reinforced the argument, stating that waqf boards are statutory, not religious bodies. "The mutawalli (caretaker) is just a manager. So, should the government remain silent when misuse is rampant?" he asked, urging support for the Bill’s passage.

The debate has deepened political divides, with the Opposition vowing to challenge the Bill’s constitutional validity. As the legislation moves to the Rajya Sabha, the battle over its impact on India’s secular fabric is far from over.