The Lok Sabha session began on a contentious note Wednesday as Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju presented the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Reacting sharply, Congress Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, accused the NDA-led government of attempting to undermine the Constitution, stating, “This Bill is a direct attack on the Constitution’s basic structure. It aims to weaken the Constitution, vilify minority communities, divide Indian society, and disenfranchise minorities.” He also criticized the government’s stance on religious practices, pointing to recent restrictions on namaz prayers on public roads, and questioned the representation of minority MPs in the government.
In response, Rijiju clarified that the Bill does not aim to interfere with religious practices or the management of mosques.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day following the passage of the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, after a walkout by opposition members.
Introducing the bill, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju highlighted that the consultation process conducted by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was the largest such exercise in India’s democratic history. He emphasized that over 97.27 lakh petitions and memorandums were received by the JPC in both physical and online formats, with the committee carefully reviewing each one before finalizing its report.
Rijiju further noted that 284 delegations had presented their views on the bill, along with contributions from the Waqf boards of 25 states and Union Territories. In addition, legal experts, charitable organizations, academicians, and religious leaders, among others, had submitted their opinions on the matter.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was first introduced in Parliament last year, creating a strong outrage from the Opposition. It was later referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament, led by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal, for further examination. On February 13, the committee submitted its report, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on February 19. However, Opposition MPs within the committee expressed concerns, alleging that their proposed amendments were dismissed and that their dissent notes had been removed from the report without their consent. The committee incorporated 14 changes suggested by NDA MPs, while rejecting all 44 amendments put forward by the Opposition.
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have issued whips to their Members of Parliament (MPs) to ensure full attendance in the House. Key allies of the NDA, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal (United), Shiv Sena, and LJP (Ram Vilas), have also instructed their MPs to support the government’s position on the matter.
Amit Shah: ‘Waqf Bill Amendments Will Not Cause Religious Tension’
“Waqf is an Arabic word. Waqf means donation of property in the name of Allah. Waqf is a charitable endowment. I can’t donate someone else’s property. You donate something which is yours. No non-Muslims allowed in Waqf. The amendments won’t create tension between religions,” Amit Shah said.
KC Venugopal : ‘Centre Wants To Destroy Country’s Minorities’
“Today you are against the Muslims, tomorrow you will be against the Christians, day after tomorrow you will be against the Sikhs… You want to destroy the minorities of the country. This is a clear agenda,” he said
Andhra Congress Chief Sharmila Slams Waqf Bill as ‘Assault on Religious Freedom’
Andhra Pradesh Congress President Y.S. Sharmila Reddy on Wednesday condemned the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing it of undermining the religious rights of Muslims protected by the Constitution. She called the bill a “conspiracy” to marginalize minority communities and a violation of constitutional values. Sharmila also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming the bill targets Muslim sentiments and labeling the day as a “black day” for India, alleging it could stoke religious tensions.
UP deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya: ‘The bill benefits poor Muslims’
“The Waqf Amendment Bill was passed by the Cabinet and presented in Parliament. It was sent to the JPC. It was discussed in detail there. Today, again, it is being discussed in the House. Everything in the bill is good for the poor Muslims of the country. A way has been made to get out of the entire Waqf Board, which was under the captivity of a handful of people. Congress, SP, and TMC are restless because of this.”
Anurag Thakur ‘Waqf has become a hub of corruption, needs reform’
BJP MP Anurag Thakur says, “This is not a Bill but UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development). This UMEED has empowerment, efficiency and development. Looking at this, the people of the country are supporting it. Several organisations like Catholic Bishops Conference of India, Church of Bharat, Kerala Council of Churches and Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council, All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council and Muslim Rashtriya Manch have supported it. I thank them for this. It is time to amend the Waqf because this has become a base of atrocity and corruption. It is time to end and amend this. India needs liberation from the fear of Waqf because the Waqf law formed during Congress regime meant ‘khaata na bahi, jo Waqf kahe wahi sahi’…”
