Waqf Bill debate: Non-Muslims will have no role in running of religious affairs: Amit Shah
Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Sansad TV via PTI)
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Tabling the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha amid uproar from the Opposition, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that the legislation has been brought in with a good intention and for ensuring welfare of the Muslim community.
Trying to turn the tables on the opposition, the Union Minister claimed that the erstwhile UPA regime, as part of its vote-bank politics, had in March 2014, de-notified 123 prime properties in Delhi and gave them to the Waqf board.
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Deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi rebutted Rijiju and asked him to authenticate his claims.
Gogoi said that the Bill was brought to dilute the Constitution, defame and disenfranchise minorities, and divide society.
The minister criticised the Opposition for "spreading rumours" and "misleading critics," claiming that the Bill would benefit everyone.
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He also dispelled concerns about rumours that the Bill would "take away the rights of Muslims" and assured that "no land will be snatched under the Waqf Bill."
Notably, the bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995. The Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, while opening the discussion on the Bill, accused the Centre of attempting to "dilute the Constitution" through the Waqf Amendment Bill.
"This bill aims to dilute the Constitution, defame minority communities, divide Indian society, and disenfranchise minorities," the Congress leader charged.
Dismissing both Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Rijiju's claims that there was a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) discussion, taking into consideration inputs from all parties, the Congress leader countered, saying that there was no clause-by-clause discussion.
"Not a single amendment suggested by the Opposition has been adopted," said Gogoi, adding, "Those who had no idea about Waqf were invited to JPC."
Gogoi, debating against the Waqf Amendment Bill, warned that the government will target other minorities in the future as well. "Today, they are targeting the land of one community; Tomorrow, they will target another," he warned.
Gogoi also questioned the government over a contentious provision - that donations can only be made by a Muslim who has been practicing his/her faith for at least five years. It is a sad situation, the Congress leader said, when the government takes it on itself to issue "religious certificates."
"Today the condition of minorities has become such that the government will give a 'certificate' of their religion. Will they ask for certificates from other religions also... whether they have completed five years? Why is this being asked of Muslims? Why is the government interfering in religion?"
In his lengthy rebuttal to Rijiju, the Assam leader began by accusing the Union Minister of making misleading statements, which earned him a reprimand from Speaker Om Birla.
Gogoi also pointed out that the Minority Affairs Ministry did not mention this bill in four meetings of its parliamentary committee in 2023, a year before the amendments were suddenly tabled.
This talk of "reform" of the Waqf laws - as Rijiju had stressed in his speech - is a diversion to help the BJP dilute the election process and destroy communal harmony, Gogoi continued.
He said that in BJP-ruled states, Muslims weren't allowed to offer Eid prayers (on Monday), accusing the government of making a smokescreen of Waqf changes to "vilify minorities."
The Congress leader also ripped into the functioning of the joint parliamentary committee that had been tasked, last year, with reviewing the proposed changes to the Waqf laws.
The committee - led by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal who allegedly routinely ignored opposition members' views - held multiple meetings over six months. Eventually, 66 changes were proposed, of which the opposition's 44 were rejected and the 23 from the BJP and allied parties were accepted.
Muslim organisations' concerns not addressed by Parl panel: Hurriyat Conference chief
April 2, 2025 7:04 pm
Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq expressed disappointment that the Joint Parliamentary Committee tasked with looking into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill had not addressed even one concern of the Muslim scholars from the Union Territory. PTI
That Waqf bill is interference in Muslims' religious matters is fear-mongering for vote-bank: Shah
April 2, 2025 6:38 pm
New Delhi: That Waqf bill is interference in Muslims' religious matters and properties donated by them is fear-mongering for vote-bank, Amit Shah said in Lok Sabha. Non-Muslims in Waqf council, boards; these bodies purely for ensuring administration of properties in accordance with stated aims, he said. Waqf council, boards will be aimed at catching those exploiting Waqf properties, he said. PTI
Non-Muslims will have no role in running of religious affairs: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha
April 2, 2025 6:31 pm
New Delhi: Waqf council, waqf board came into existence in 1995; non-Muslims will have no role in running of religious affairs, said Amit Shah in Lok Sabha. PTI
Fadnavis, Shinde back Waqf Bill; Cong says govt wants to hand over land to industrialists
April 2, 2025 6:29 pm
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday hailed the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, calling the proposed legislation a progressive step that reflects the word "secular" mentioned in the Constitution's preamble. PTI
Rijiju, Shiv Sena question stand of Uddhav Thackeray's party on Waqf Bill
April 2, 2025 6:26 pm
New Delhi: Union minister Kiren Rijiju and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Wednesday questioned the stand taken by Shiv Sena (UBT) on the Waqf Bill and wondered whether it had ditched the ideology of Bal Thackeray. PTI
Waqf amendment Bill an 'attempt to violate' religious freedom: Jharkhand Congress chief
April 2, 2025 6:26 pm
Ranchi: Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh on Wednesday condemned the Waqf Amendment Bill, terming it an "attempt to violate" the religious freedom granted to Muslims under the Constitution. PTI
LJP supports Waqf bill, says it's not against any religion but for transparency
April 2, 2025 6:26 pm
New Delhi: BJP ally the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on Wednesday backed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying it is not against any religion or religious community but for managing properties to ensure the welfare of Muslims. PTI
State should not interfere with religion: Sajad Gani Lone on Waqf Bill
April 2, 2025 5:41 pm
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference president and MLA from Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, stated on Wednesday that the state should not interfere with religion and that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a matter of religion.
‘Violating rights of Muslims’: Mehbooba Mufti slams BJP over Waqf Bill
April 2, 2025 5:31 pm
Srinagar: People's Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday slammed the BJP over the introduction of the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha, accusing the party of targeting Muslims and attempting to take over their properties. ANI
Bill unconstitutional, violates right to equality and religion: AIMIM's Waris Pathan
April 2, 2025 5:30 pm
Mumbai: AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan on Wednesday slammed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of the right to equality and freedom to manage religious affairs. ANI
Rules should ensure flexibility to states to decide composition of Waqf boards: TDP
April 2, 2025 5:26 pm
New Delhi: NDA ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Wednesday urged the government to consider providing flexibility to the states to determine the composition of Waqf boards. PTI
Bill aimed at polarisation, will prove to be waterloo for BJP: Akhilesh in LS
April 2, 2025 4:33 pm
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said in the Lok Sabha that the Waqf Amendment Bill is aimed at polarisation and will send a wrong message to the world denting the country's secular image. PTI
J-K political parties oppose Waqf Bill
April 2, 2025 4:18 pm
Political parties in Kashmir on Wednesday opposed the amendments made to the Waqf Act saying it was an interference in religious matters and an attempt to disempower Muslims. "This bill is designed to disempower Muslims. I don't have any hope with BJP as we have been seeing for the past 10-11 years how Muslims are lynched and mosques demolished... but the Hindu brethren should step forward because this is the nation of Gandhi, it should run as per the constitution," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here. People's Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone also opposed the Waqf Bill amendments. Waqf by definition is the custodian of properties which are collectively owned by Muslims, he said. "The proposed amendment by Parliament is a blatant interference in our faith aimed at divesting rightfully custodians of their authority. Yet another right wing trespass," Lone said in a post on X. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said his party would not support the amendments as "only one religion is being targeted". "I have also said that every religion has its institutions and every religion has a charitable wing, and for us it is the Waqf," he said. PTI
'Attempt to violate' religious freedom: J'khand Cong chief
April 2, 2025 4:11 pm
Ranchi, Apr 2 (PTI) Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh on Wednesday condemned the Waqf Amendment Bill, terming it an "attempt to violate" the religious freedom granted to Muslims under the Constitution. He also said that the Bill is an attempt to divert people's attention from various issues such as unemployment and inflation. "We are not against the amendment, but rather its intention. Amendment should be introduced in the interest of the state and the country. However, this is an attempt to create division in the country," Kamlesh told reporters here. He alleged that the Bill weakens Muslims' authority over the board and allows the government to control Waqf assets.
‘Withdraw Waqf Bill’: CM Stalin urges PM Modi
April 2, 2025 3:39 pm
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Stalin said the Constitution grants every citizen the right to follow their respective religion and it is the duty of the elected governments to uphold and protect this right. However, the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, 1995 have not taken into consideration the constitutional protection given to minorities and are “bound to severely harm the interest of Muslim community.”
Muslim bodies denounce Waqf Bill
April 2, 2025 1:59 pm
Muslim bodies said the amended provisions in it will do more harm than good to Muslims. It will be detrimental rather than beneficial for Muslims, a senior All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) official said. "The AIMPLB and other Muslim organisations have conveyed their concerns over the Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), but they were not considered," Maulana Khalid Rashi Farangi Mahali, who is a senior executive member of the Board, told PTI. "We have urged all MPs to consider the sentiments of the Muslim community and reject the proposed amendments," he said while asserting that Waqf properties hold religious significance comparable to fundamental Islamic practices.
BJD to oppose Waqf (Amendment) Bill
April 2, 2025 1:43 pm
Odisha's opposition party Biju Janata Dal said it will oppose the contentious legislation. The party said it had made some suggestions to be incorporated into the Bill which were rejected. The BJD, which has seven members in the Rajya Sabha, will oppose the Bill, BJD's Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sasmit Patra told PTI. The regional party headed by former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, however, has no member in the Lok Sabha.
Waqf Bill to be renamed as Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Bill: Rijiju
April 2, 2025 1:24 pm
Waqf property has to be used for poor Muslims, Waqf Bill needed to achieve this purpose: Rijiju
April 2, 2025 1:14 pm
Muslims were misled for vote bank politics for 70 years; how long do you want to mislead them: Rijiju to Opposition
April 2, 2025 1:13 pm
Country will remember for ages who is supporting and opposing Waqf Bill: Rijiju
April 2, 2025 1:11 pm
Govt, JPC received several memoranda, suggestions from stakeholders, experts on Waqf Bill: Rijiju
April 2, 2025 1:08 pm
He said over 97.27 lakh petitions, memorandums were received by the JPC through physical and online formats and the JPC had gone through each of them before finalising its report. The minister said as many as 284 delegations submitted their views on the Bill besides the Waqf boards of 25 states and Union Territories. Legal luminaries, charitable organisations, academicians and religious leaders, among others, have also submitted their opinions, he said.
India has largest number of Waqf properties in world, says Kiren Rijiju
April 2, 2025 1:05 pm
Waqf property private in nature, unfair to compare it with land banks of Railways, armed forces: Rijiju in Lok Sabha
April 2, 2025 1:05 pm
Muslim law board to challenge Waqf Bill in court, hold nationwide protests
April 2, 2025 12:52 pm
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) said it will challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in court and take the fight against the "black law" that threatens the community's rights to the streets. Criticising the proposed legislation at a press conference, AIMPLB member Md Adeeb claimed it was an attempt to seize properties of the Muslim community. "They have started this spectacle thinking they can take away our property. Can this be accepted? Do not think that we are defeated," Adeeb said.
Government not going to interfere in any religious institution: Rijiju amid noisy opposition protest on Waqf Bill
April 2, 2025 12:48 pm
Changes made in Waqf law by UPA govt gave it overriding effect over other statutes, hence new amendments were required: Rijiju
April 2, 2025 12:41 pm
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju slams Opposition in Lok Sabha
April 2, 2025 12:40 pm
Says 'you tried to mislead people on issues which are not part of Waqf Bill'.
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