Parliament Passes Waqf Bill As RS Gives Its Nod

Owaisi moves SC against Waqf Bill, Cong to follow

- TDG NETWORK

Parliament early Friday approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after the Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the contentious legislation following an over 13-hour debate.

The discussion witnessed staunch objections from opposition parties, which termed the Bill "anti-Muslim" and "unconstitutional" with the government responding that the "historic reform" would benefit the minority community.

The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 members voting in favour and 95 opposing it. It was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.

Parliament also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod. The Lok Sabha has already given its assent to the Bill.

Participating in the discussion, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress and other opposition parties of scaring the Muslim community with the Bill and asserted that the central government worked for all with the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.

Rijiju said the Waqf Board is a statutory body and, as such, like all government bodies, it should be secular. He said the inclusion of a few non-Muslims on the Waqf Board would not alter the decisions of the body and instead would add value.