NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, days after Parliament passed the contentious legislation following marathon debates in both Houses.
The Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill in the early hours of Friday with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, following nearly 17 hours of discussion. The Lok Sabha had passed the legislation earlier this week after a 13-hour marathon debate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the move as a “watershed moment,” saying that the waqf system had long suffered from a lack of transparency and accountability. “This legislation will boost transparency and safeguard people’s rights,” he posted on X.
The Act aims to reform the governance of waqf properties, enhance transparency in dealings, and ensure representation from different Muslim sects in waqf boards. It also includes provisions to safeguard heritage sites, improve social welfare, and support the economic inclusion of marginalized groups, including Muslim widows and divorcees.
Minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, who piloted the Bill, said it would benefit millions of poor Muslims and asserted it does not interfere with waqf properties. “This legislation is based on extensive stakeholder consultation and incorporates recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee,” he said. He clarified that the Central Waqf Council would comprise 22 members, with no more than four non-Muslims, ensuring the body remains secular yet representative.
Opposition leaders, however, accused the government of pushing a divisive agenda. Congress MP Dr Syed Naseer Hussain said the Bill was misleading and intended for communal polarisation. DMK’s Tiruchi Siva called it anti-secular and unconstitutional, while TMC’s Mohammad Nadimul Haque said it violates fundamental rights. AAP’s Sanjay Singh urged the government to withdraw the Bill.
Union home minister Amit Shah countered that the opposition was misguiding people. BJP’s JP Nadda emphasised that the Bill aligns with UMEED — Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development — to modernise property administration.
Supporting the Bill, JD(S) chief and former PM HD Devegowda said waqf properties had long been misused by elites. BJP MP Radha Mohan Das said previous governments had neglected the upliftment of poor Muslims, and the Modi government is working to bring them into the mainstream.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a withdrawal of the Bill, citing constitutional concerns. AIADMK’s Dr M Thambidurai supported changes in board composition, while Minister Ramdas Athawale claimed the Bill integrates all minority communities.
Alongside this legislation, Parliament also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, which repeals the century-old Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923, aiming to eliminate outdated provisions.
As the new law comes into force, political debate continues over its long-term impact — whether it will empower marginalised communities or, as critics claim, centralise control and erode minority autonomy.
The Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill in the early hours of Friday with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, following nearly 17 hours of discussion. The Lok Sabha had passed the legislation earlier this week after a 13-hour marathon debate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the move as a “watershed moment,” saying that the waqf system had long suffered from a lack of transparency and accountability. “This legislation will boost transparency and safeguard people’s rights,” he posted on X.
The Act aims to reform the governance of waqf properties, enhance transparency in dealings, and ensure representation from different Muslim sects in waqf boards. It also includes provisions to safeguard heritage sites, improve social welfare, and support the economic inclusion of marginalized groups, including Muslim widows and divorcees.
Minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, who piloted the Bill, said it would benefit millions of poor Muslims and asserted it does not interfere with waqf properties. “This legislation is based on extensive stakeholder consultation and incorporates recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee,” he said. He clarified that the Central Waqf Council would comprise 22 members, with no more than four non-Muslims, ensuring the body remains secular yet representative.
Opposition leaders, however, accused the government of pushing a divisive agenda. Congress MP Dr Syed Naseer Hussain said the Bill was misleading and intended for communal polarisation. DMK’s Tiruchi Siva called it anti-secular and unconstitutional, while TMC’s Mohammad Nadimul Haque said it violates fundamental rights. AAP’s Sanjay Singh urged the government to withdraw the Bill.
Union home minister Amit Shah countered that the opposition was misguiding people. BJP’s JP Nadda emphasised that the Bill aligns with UMEED — Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development — to modernise property administration.
Supporting the Bill, JD(S) chief and former PM HD Devegowda said waqf properties had long been misused by elites. BJP MP Radha Mohan Das said previous governments had neglected the upliftment of poor Muslims, and the Modi government is working to bring them into the mainstream.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a withdrawal of the Bill, citing constitutional concerns. AIADMK’s Dr M Thambidurai supported changes in board composition, while Minister Ramdas Athawale claimed the Bill integrates all minority communities.
Alongside this legislation, Parliament also approved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, which repeals the century-old Mussalman Wakf Act of 1923, aiming to eliminate outdated provisions.
As the new law comes into force, political debate continues over its long-term impact — whether it will empower marginalised communities or, as critics claim, centralise control and erode minority autonomy.
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