NEW DELHI: In the early hours of Thursday, the Lok Sabha passed the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, following a debate that lasted over 12 hours. While the ruling NDA defended the bill as beneficial for minorities, the opposition strongly criticized it, calling it "anti-Muslim."
The bill was approved after all amendments proposed by opposition members were rejected through voice votes. It was passed by a division of votes, with 288 in favor and 232 against.
Key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill include strengthening Waqf tribunals, implementing a structured selection process, and setting a fixed tenure to enhance dispute resolution efficiency.
The bill reduces the mandatory contribution of Waqf institutions to Waqf boards from 7 per cent to 5 per cent. Additionally, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will be subject to audits by state-appointed auditors.
Also check: Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: 'Waqf Bill will benefit crores of poor Muslims,' says Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha
A centralized portal will be introduced to automate the management of Waqf properties, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency.
The bill restores pre-2013 rules by allowing practising Muslims (for at least five years) to dedicate their property to the Waqf. It also mandates that women receive their inheritance before any Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
Furthermore, the bill states that an officer above the rank of collector will investigate cases where government properties are claimed as Waqf. It also includes a provision to appoint non-Muslim members to central and state Waqf boards to promote inclusivity.
Who supported the Waqf bill in Lok Sabha
"To those who give big speeches that the right to equality has ended or there will be discrimination between two religions or the religious rights of Muslims will be interfered with, I want to tell them that nothing like this is going to happen." - Amit Shah | Home minister
"The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution. The changes made in the waqf law by the UPA government gave it overriding effect over other statutes, hence the new amendments were required. You (opposition) tried to mislead the people on issues which are not part of the waqf bill ... Tell me now, citizenship rights of how many Muslims were taken away ever since CAA came into force? Not even one. You should apologise for misleading the people on CAA." - Kiren Rijiju
"The Janata Dal (United) and Nitish Kumar do not need your certificate of secularism. Your secularism is about dividing the society for votes." - Lalan Singh | JDU
"If you quote any part of the law, please ensure you quote it entirely. If this waqf bill is aimed at empowering women and backward Muslims, how can it be unconstitutional?" - Ravi Shankar Prasad | BJP
Who opposed the Waqf bill in Lok Sabha
"This bill is an attack on the basic structure of our Constitution, an attack on our federal structure, and has four primary objectives: to dilute the Constitution, to defame minority communities, to divide Indian society, and to disenfranchise minorities. There is a clear attempt to take control of waqf properties. Today, their eyes are on one minority group; tomorrow, they will target another. We support necessary reforms, but this bill will only lead to increased litigation and more problems." - Gaurav Gogoi | Congress
"The irony is that the rights of the minorities are going to be protected by a party which has no member of a Muslim community. Today, it is a remarkable day for Parliament to decide our destiny whether this secular country is going to travel in the path which was well written by the forefathers of the Constitution or a negative path decided by the communal forces in the country." - A Raja | DMK
"Neither the policy nor the intent behind the Waqf Amendment Bill is right. This is a conspiracy to snatch lands and houses of crores of people ... This bill will prove to be a Waterloo for BJP because many members who are supporting right now are doing it from outside and inside they are not convinced about it." - Akhilesh Yadav| SP
"We will not give up on the minorities of this country. The INDIA alliance stands together to oppose this bill." - Kanimozhi | DMK
The bill was approved after all amendments proposed by opposition members were rejected through voice votes. It was passed by a division of votes, with 288 in favor and 232 against.
Key provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill include strengthening Waqf tribunals, implementing a structured selection process, and setting a fixed tenure to enhance dispute resolution efficiency.
The bill reduces the mandatory contribution of Waqf institutions to Waqf boards from 7 per cent to 5 per cent. Additionally, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will be subject to audits by state-appointed auditors.
Also check: Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: 'Waqf Bill will benefit crores of poor Muslims,' says Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha
A centralized portal will be introduced to automate the management of Waqf properties, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency.
The bill restores pre-2013 rules by allowing practising Muslims (for at least five years) to dedicate their property to the Waqf. It also mandates that women receive their inheritance before any Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
Furthermore, the bill states that an officer above the rank of collector will investigate cases where government properties are claimed as Waqf. It also includes a provision to appoint non-Muslim members to central and state Waqf boards to promote inclusivity.
Who supported the Waqf bill in Lok Sabha
"To those who give big speeches that the right to equality has ended or there will be discrimination between two religions or the religious rights of Muslims will be interfered with, I want to tell them that nothing like this is going to happen." - Amit Shah | Home minister
"The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution. The changes made in the waqf law by the UPA government gave it overriding effect over other statutes, hence the new amendments were required. You (opposition) tried to mislead the people on issues which are not part of the waqf bill ... Tell me now, citizenship rights of how many Muslims were taken away ever since CAA came into force? Not even one. You should apologise for misleading the people on CAA." - Kiren Rijiju
"The Janata Dal (United) and Nitish Kumar do not need your certificate of secularism. Your secularism is about dividing the society for votes." - Lalan Singh | JDU
"If you quote any part of the law, please ensure you quote it entirely. If this waqf bill is aimed at empowering women and backward Muslims, how can it be unconstitutional?" - Ravi Shankar Prasad | BJP
Who opposed the Waqf bill in Lok Sabha
"This bill is an attack on the basic structure of our Constitution, an attack on our federal structure, and has four primary objectives: to dilute the Constitution, to defame minority communities, to divide Indian society, and to disenfranchise minorities. There is a clear attempt to take control of waqf properties. Today, their eyes are on one minority group; tomorrow, they will target another. We support necessary reforms, but this bill will only lead to increased litigation and more problems." - Gaurav Gogoi | Congress
"The irony is that the rights of the minorities are going to be protected by a party which has no member of a Muslim community. Today, it is a remarkable day for Parliament to decide our destiny whether this secular country is going to travel in the path which was well written by the forefathers of the Constitution or a negative path decided by the communal forces in the country." - A Raja | DMK
"Neither the policy nor the intent behind the Waqf Amendment Bill is right. This is a conspiracy to snatch lands and houses of crores of people ... This bill will prove to be a Waterloo for BJP because many members who are supporting right now are doing it from outside and inside they are not convinced about it." - Akhilesh Yadav| SP
"We will not give up on the minorities of this country. The INDIA alliance stands together to oppose this bill." - Kanimozhi | DMK
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