UPA Denotified 123 Properties In Delhi, Including Old Parliament Building. “Had This Amendment Not Been Introduced, Even The Parliament We Are Sitting In Could Have Been Claimed As Waqf Property: Rijiju
Cong Kick Starts Legal Battle With A Petition In Supreme Court
New Delhi, Srinagar: The Rajya Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the early hours of Friday following a heated 13-hour debate. The bill was cleared with 128 votes in favour and 95 against it. The session was adjourned at 4:02 am and is scheduled to reconvene at 11 am on the same day. A day earlier, the Bill had been passed in the Lok Sabha with 288 members supporting it and 232 voting against. Together with the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, the legislation has sparked a political storm, with the BJP celebrating it as a reformative step and the Opposition decrying it as an assault on minority rights.
Soon after both the houses of Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill as a “watershed moment” in India’s journey towards socio-economic justice and inclusive growth. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister wrote: “The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity.” Modi also thanked all Members of Parliament who took part in the legislative process, acknowledging their contributions during committee and parliamentary discussions. “A special thanks to the countless people who submitted over one crore suggestions to the Parliamentary committee. Yet again, the importance of extensive debate and dialogue has been reaffirmed,” he added.
Defending the Bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that several properties—some belonging to temples, religious bodies of other faiths, and even the government—had been unlawfully claimed as Waqf. “You can only donate what belongs to you. You cannot donate someone else’s property,” Shah stated, citing instances where temple properties and government land were allegedly declared as Waqf, including prime land in Delhi’s Lutyens’ zone and a 400-year-old temple in Tamil Nadu. He also referred to a Karnataka High Court order halting what he described as a land grab of 602 sq km by Waqf authorities. “The Bill will stop misuse and bring transparency. It ensures that only private, personal property can be donated as Waqf, not village or community land,” he asserted. Shah further blamed the previous UPA government for the current situation, claiming that it had altered Waqf rules just before the 2014 general elections to prevent land-grabbing cases from being taken to court. “They sinned for vote-bank politics,” he said.
Echoing Shah, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the UPA of denotifying 123 properties in Delhi, including the old Parliament building, and handing them over to the Waqf Board. “Had this amendment not been introduced, even the Parliament we are sitting in could have been claimed as Waqf property,” Rijiju said. Rijiju also questioned the use of Waqf income, alleging that funds were not reaching poor Muslims. “India has the largest Waqf property in the world—why isn’t it being used for education, healthcare, and skill development of the poor?” he asked.
The BJP garnered support from party-ruled states. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the Bill would improve the management and security of Waqf properties and empower the Muslim community through accountability. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath went a step further, alleging that Waqf boards were operating like “land mafias” and had even claimed land at the Maha Kumbh site. “This Bill puts an end to arbitrary claims,” he said. BJP national president JP Nadda drew comparisons to reforms such as the ban on triple talaq. “This Bill introduces checks and balances, much like those in Muslim countries across the world,” he said.
Despite the Government’s explanations, the Congress party remains steadfast in its opposition to the Bill. With an announcement to challenge it legally, the matter has been now taken to Supreme Court, setting the stage for continued political and judicial debate in the days to come. The Congress party and other Opposition leaders have strongly opposed the Bill. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called it “a black day for democracy and for the minorities.” “This is a violation of constitutional principles,” Kharge said, accusing the government of ignoring Opposition concerns and adopting a “negative and dismissive” stance. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh announced that the party would challenge the constitutionality of the legislation in the Supreme Court. “This is part of a broader attempt by the Modi-led government to weaken minority institutions and undermine the principles of inclusion,” he said.
