Govt & Opposition Gird up as Waqf Board Bill Seeks LS Nod
A silent protest against Waqf Board Amendment bill was held in Bengaluru recently (Image credit X.com)
Lok Sabha Sets up Waqf Board Bill Debate for Passage
By TRH News Desk
New Delhi, April 1: Contentious Waqf Board Amendment Bill is set for discussion and passage in the Lok Sabha this week. Whips have been issued by political parties to their MPs to stay put in the Lok Sabha for three days, beginning tomorrow.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is determined to gain parliamentary nod to the contentious legislation in the ongoing Budget session of parliament. The Opposition MPs are holding a strategy meeting in parliament to strike a united stance over the contentious bill.
The joint parliamentary committee (JPC) had submitted its report on the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. Massive protests have been held across the country against the legislation.
The Waqf Board Amendment Bill is another BJP-led government’s foray into the domains of Muslims, which had hitherto been touched until the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi at the summit of power.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has accused the UP Waqf Board of being a “land mafia”, alleging that it has illegally occupied land in the Kumbh area of Allahabad and other parts of the state. His remarks come amid escalating tensions over the amended Waqf Bill, which is set to be discussed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The controversy deepened following accusations by Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamat, who alleged that the state government had encroached upon 55 bighas of land in the Kumbh area that he claimed belonged to the waqf board.
The chief minister’s comments have further inflamed the debate over the ownership and management of waqf properties.
With eight hours allocated for discussions on the bill in the Lok Sabha, a stormy session is anticipated. The opposition, along with various Muslim organizations, has strongly resisted the proposed amendments.
Tensions were evident during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Tuesday, where opposition parties staged a walkout over the allocated discussion time.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, in an exclusive interview with India Today, criticized the opposition’s stance, stating that the walkout was “an excuse to avoid discussion”. He asserted that the amendments aim to regulate waqf properties fairly and noted that even the Christian community has expressed support for the bill.
“We want a discussion on the Waqf Bill, but the opposition is fearmongering and obstructing the legislation,” Rijiju said.
The opposition has labeled the bill unconstitutional and detrimental to the Muslim community. Originally tabled in August last year, the bill proposes significant changes to the governance of waqf properties, which are worth crores of rupees.
Due to strong protests, the bill was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for review and later approved by the Union Cabinet in February with 14 amendments.
Key amendments to the Waqf Bill include:
- Changes in the composition of waqf boards, making it mandatory to include non-Muslim members.
- Mandatory registration of all waqf properties in a central database within six months, with some flexibility for extensions by the Waqf Tribunal.
- Empowering state government officials to determine whether a property is waqf or government-owned, replacing district collectors as the determining authority.
This last provision has sparked considerable opposition, with Muslim groups arguing that state officials may be biased in favor of the government.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed at the “Times Now Summit 2025” that the bill would be introduced in Parliament within the current session. Seeking to allay concerns, Shah emphasized that the amendments align with the Constitution and do not infringe upon Muslim rights.
“The opposition is misleading Muslims. No rights will be curbed. They are spreading lies,” Shah said.
However, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has vehemently opposed the bill, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of targeting mosques and dargahs through the legislation.
“The Waqf Bill is like firing bullets at our chest,” Owaisi remarked, further intensifying the political clash over the issue.
With both sides digging in their heels, the upcoming Lok Sabha session is expected to be a battleground for one of the most contentious bills in recent times.
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