Lok Sabha Clears Waqf Amendment Bill Following Intense 12-Hour Debate
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill in the early hours of Thursday after an intense 12-hour debate, with the government securing a 288-232 majority. The bill, which seeks to amend the 1995 Waqf Act, will now be presented in the Rajya Sabha.
Key Changes in the Waqf Amendment Bill
The proposed amendments introduce significant reforms, including the mandatory inclusion of two non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council. Additionally, only individuals who have practiced Islam for at least five years will be allowed to dedicate property to Waqf. Another contentious provision grants district Collectors the authority to determine ownership of government properties identified as Waqf land.
Opposition Raises Constitutional Concerns
The Opposition strongly opposed the bill, alleging that the Joint Parliamentary Committee did not incorporate their recommendations. The Congress accused the government of attempting to “defame and disenfranchise minorities” and labeled the bill as an “assault on the Constitution.” AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi staged a dramatic protest, tearing up a copy of the bill in a reference to Mahatma Gandhi’s defiance of British laws in South Africa.
Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticized the BJP, accusing it of political opportunism and attempting to divide minority communities.
Government Defends the Bill
Union Home Minister Amit Shah argued that the bill was not about religion but about the regulation of Waqf properties, claiming that the existing law had enabled the unchecked takeover of lands, including temple properties and government-owned plots. He cited cases where valuable land in Delhi’s Lutyens zone and other states had been declared as Waqf property.
Shah also refuted claims that non-Muslims would have control over religious properties, stating, “Those managing religious sites will remain from the respective communities. The Opposition is misleading minorities for vote bank politics.”
Legal and Social Implications
The bill states that trusts established by Muslims under any law will no longer be considered Waqf properties. It also mandates that women receive their rightful inheritance before any property is dedicated to Waqf, with specific protections for widows, divorced women, and orphans. Furthermore, disputes over government properties claimed by Waqf will now be settled by senior government officials instead of Waqf tribunals.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has announced plans to challenge the bill in court and warned of nationwide protests, vowing to mobilize opposition similar to the farmers’ protests.
With the bill now headed to the Rajya Sabha, the debate over its impact on Waqf properties and minority rights is set to continue.
