After a grueling 12-hour debate, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (amendment) Bill late Wednesday night. Home Minister Amit Shah reassured the Muslim community that the legislation does not meddle with their religious practices, while sharply criticizing the opposition for stirring fear to secure votes.
The bill, aimed at reforming Waqf property management, secured 288 votes in favor and 232 against. Shah clarified that only Muslims can serve as mutawallis (managers) or waqifs (donors) of Waqf properties, with non-Muslims included in Waqf Boards or Councils solely for administrative oversight to ensure donations are used as intended.
Opposition leaders fiercely opposed the bill, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi labeling it unconstitutional and dramatically tearing a copy in the House. Shah hit back, arguing that the amendment addresses flaws in the 2013 Waqf law, which he called an “extreme” measure rushed through by the Congress-led UPA government for political appeasement before the 2014 elections.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who tabled the bill, stressed that it focuses on property rights, not religion. He warned that without this amendment, properties like the Parliament building could have been claimed as Waqf assets, citing past claims by the Delhi Waqf Board on sites like the Central Government Offices Complex.
The bill’s passage marks a win for the Modi government, which Shah said prioritizes justice and welfare over vote-bank politics. He dismissed opposition claims as baseless, pointing to past laws like the CAA and triple talaq abolition, which he said sparked similar unfounded fears.