In a marathon session that stretched into the early hours of Thursday, April 2, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, following a contentious 12-hour debate. The bill saw 288 members in favor and 232 against.
During the heated discussions, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) championed the bill as a boon for the minority communities, while opposition parties criticized it as detrimental to Muslim interests. Despite multiple amendments proposed by the opposition, they were all dismissed through voice votes.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, staunchly defended the bill. He asserted that minorities are safer in India than anywhere else in the world, thanks to the secular nature of the majority community. “Crores of poor Muslims will be grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi once this bill is enacted,” Rijiju stated, addressing the house.
The debate was not without its controversies. Opposition members labeled the bill “anti-Muslim,” a claim Rijiju refuted, arguing that the criticisms were unfounded and that the opposition was unwilling to acknowledge the facts laid out by Home Minister Amit Shah. “The term ‘unconstitutional’ is used too loosely. If the bill were truly unconstitutional, it would have been struck down by the courts,” Rijiju remarked.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to overhaul the administration and management of waqf properties, addressing the inefficiencies of the 1995 Act. It proposes enhancements in the registration processes and advocates for the increased use of technology in managing waqf records.
Following its passage in the Lok Sabha, the bill is set to face the Rajya Sabha, where it is allotted eight hours for debate. This move could potentially spark another round of extensive discussions as the bill continues its journey through the legislative process.
