Waqf Amendment Bill likely in Lok Sabha this week

The controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha this week.

Home Minister Amit Shah had reiterated in Parliament recently that it would be introduced in the ongoing Budget session. The introduction of the Bill may trigger another round of confrontation between the Congress-led Opposition and the Centre.

If the Bill is introduced, it is likely to further hit the already strained relations between the treasury and opposition benches over the raging controversies on the delimitation exercise and three-language policy.

While the ongoing Budget session has already seen several rounds of confrontation and stand-off, especially between the DMK and the Centre, on these issues, the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is likely to put the Centre on a sticky wicket, with key NDA allies, mainly the TDP, having assured the Muslim community that its interests will be safeguarded.

Last week, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu reiterated his government’s commitment to safeguarding Waqf properties and uplifting underprivileged Muslim families in the state.

Earlier, the JD(U) and the LJP (Ramvilas), the other two allies of the NDA from poll-bound Bihar, had also expressed reservations on the Bill.

Though they have played down their apprehensions on the proposed legislation, sources say that Muslims being a sizeable vote bank in Bihar, the two allies are not keen to upset them and, therefore, the introduction of the Bill in Parliament may put the ruling BJP in a spot.

The Cabinet had last month approved the proposed amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, incorporating the changes recently recommended by the parliamentary panel, paving the way for it to be tabled for discussion and passage.

The Bill was referred to the JPC in August 2024 after it was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The parliamentary panel adopted the report with a majority vote while all 11 MPs from opposition parties in the panel had objected to the report. They had also moved dissent notes.

The 655-page report was submitted to both Houses of Parliament during the ongoing Budget session.

Earlier this month, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board had led a protest against the Bill in the national capital, which was joined by several MPs, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi cautioning NDA constituents — the TDP, the JD(U) and the LJP (Ramvilas) that Muslims would never forgive them if they supported the legislation.