Onlykashmir.in News Desk
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill early Thursday morning following a 12-hour debate, with 288 votes in favor and 232 against. The bill, which seeks to amend the 1995 Waqf Act, will now be presented in the Rajya Sabha later today.
Key Provisions of the Bill:
- Non-Muslim Representation: Mandates the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council.
- Property Donation Restrictions: Only individuals who have practiced Islam for at least five years can donate property to Waqf.
- Government Property Ownership: Government land identified as Waqf will no longer belong to the state; its ownership will be determined by the local Collector.
- Inheritance Rights: Women must receive their inheritance before any Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
- Dispute Resolution: Senior government officials, rather than Waqf tribunals, will decide ownership disputes between Waqf and government properties.
Political Reactions
Government’s Justification
The BJP defended the bill, arguing that it aims to regulate Waqf property management, prevent irregularities, and ensure equitable benefits. Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed Waqf properties had been expanded through alleged irregular means, citing examples of government and religious properties being absorbed into Waqf. He emphasized that individuals should only donate property they personally own.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju warned that without the amendment, even the Parliament building could have been claimed as Waqf property, citing a long-standing legal case involving multiple properties in Delhi.
Opposition’s Criticism
The Opposition strongly opposed the bill, calling it unconstitutional and an attack on minority rights.
- Congress: Alleged that the bill is part of a broader strategy to “defame and disenfranchise minorities.”
- AIMIM: Chief Asaduddin Owaisi symbolically tore a copy of the bill, likening his protest to Mahatma Gandhi’s defiance of British laws.
- Shiromani Akali Dal: MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal accused the BJP of using the bill for political gains, pointing out the high concentration of Waqf properties in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
Legal Challenge Ahead
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has vowed to challenge the bill in court and hinted at nationwide protests, drawing parallels to the farmers’ agitation.
With strong divisions in Parliament and growing resistance outside, the fate of the Waqf Amendment Bill now rests with the Rajya Sabha.
