Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 early Friday. The Rajya Sabha approved it after a long 13-hour debate. It received 128 votes in favour and 95 against. Earlier, the Lok Sabha had cleared it with 288 votes for and 232 against. At the same time, Parliament also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025 after both Houses agreed.

Government Defends the Bill

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Bill. He said the opposition was spreading false information among Muslims. He added that the government is focused on progress for all under the motto “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” Rijiju also explained that the Waqf Board is a secular legal body. According to him, including a few non-Muslims on the board would not harm its work. “Adding non-Muslims to the board will not change decisions. It will add value,” he said. He also noted that the Bill includes suggestions from the Joint Parliamentary Committee and different stakeholders.

Opposition Strongly Protests

Opposition parties strongly opposed the Bill. These include Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, RJD, and the Left parties. They claimed the Bill was anti-Muslim and unconstitutional. Some said it would let the government take over Muslim properties and give them to private companies. Several leaders demanded the government withdraw the Bill immediately.

Nadda Says Bill Supports Poor and Women

BJP leader J.P. Nadda spoke in support of the Bill. He said the Bill is not against Muslims. Instead, it aims to help the poor and protect Muslim women’s rights. “You made Indian Muslim women second-class citizens,” he said, accusing Congress. “India was the only country where Muslim women were not brought into the mainstream.” He pointed out that countries like Egypt, Sudan, Bangladesh, and Syria banned triple talaq years ago. “We believe in real service, not lip service,” he added. “This Bill is here to improve the way Waqf properties are managed.”

Accusations Against Past Governments

Rijiju repeated that the Waqf Board should remain secular. He said that only 4 out of 22 board members would be non-Muslims. He blamed Congress for keeping Muslims poor and out of the mainstream during their rule. According to him, earlier governments ruled for decades but did little for Muslim welfare.

Kharge Raises Alarm Over Community Conflict

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge warned that the Bill could harm national unity. He said it targets Muslims and is meant to silence them. “This legislation is unconstitutional and harmful to Indian Muslims,” he said. He urged the government to withdraw the Bill and avoid turning it into a prestige issue. He claimed the ruling party wants to destroy Muslim communities by taking over their land.

MPs Warn of Division and Discrimination

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain also opposed the Bill. He called it unconstitutional and said it fuels communal tension. He accused the BJP of pushing this Bill to gain political support through division. RJD MP Manoj Jha raised concerns about the true motive behind the Bill. He suggested it be sent back to the Select Committee. He said the Bill sends a dangerous political message to exclude Muslims. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav stressed the need to respect all religions equally. He warned that if a large community feels ignored, peace in the country will suffer.

Bill Seen as Attack on Secularism

CPI(M) MP John Brittas said the Bill goes against the Constitution. “It attacks the basic tenets of India’s Constitution—secularism, democracy, and equality,” he said. He accused the government of dividing religions. YSRCP MP Y V Subba Reddy also opposed the Bill. He called it unconstitutional and unfair.

Experts Say Bill Reduces Property Rights

Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi pointed out that the Bill removes the idea of 'Waqf by user,' which protected properties that had long been used by the Muslim community. “This is a deliberate attempt to take away protections and increase government control,” he said.

Calls for Equal Rights Across Religions

Independent MP Kapil Sibal noted that earlier laws allowed non-Muslims to form Waqf Boards. This new Bill, however, blocks that. “Bring a law to ensure women have inheritance rights in all religions,” he said. He called for equal treatment across all communities. BJD MP Muzibulla Khan said Muslims are worried about non-Muslims joining the Waqf Board. However, BJD’s Sasmit Patra said their party had not forced MPs to vote a certain way.

Other Parties Strongly Reject the Bill

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva also opposed the Bill. He said it was legally and morally wrong. “We reject the Bill in its entirety. It is legally flawed, constitutionally indefensible, and morally wrong,” he said. “Why is a particular community being targeted?” He believed the Supreme Court would cancel the Bill. AAP MP Sanjay Singh echoed the same views. He said the Bill is unconstitutional and meant to take control of Muslim religious groups. He warned that the government would next go after Sikh, Christian, and Jain institutions.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also raised concerns.

“Why is the government suddenly so concerned about poor Muslims?” he asked. He claimed the ruling party was trying to distract people from other global issues, like Donald Trump’s trade decisions.