After Lok Sabha Passage, Waqf Amendment Bill Sails Through Rajya Sabha Amid Opposition Rifts—What You Need To Know

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill cleared the Rajya Sabha just a day after it was passed in the Lok Sabha, following a marathon debate, NDTV reported.

The final tally stood at 128 in favour and 95 against, revealing cracks in the Opposition bloc.

Hours before voting, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) allowed its seven Rajya Sabha MPs a free hand through a “conscience vote,” waiving the party whip.

This unexpected move shifted the equation in the Upper House.

BJD’s Sasmit Patra stated on X that the decision was driven by sensitivities of “different sections of the Minority communities” on the Waqf Bill.

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju opened the debate by rejecting claims that the bill targets Muslim interests.

He emphasised that Waqf affairs would continue to be managed solely by Muslims.

Rijiju argued the bill targets property management, not religion, and seeks to eliminate corruption.

He said ownership proof would be mandatory before declaring land as Waqf—replacing automatic claims.

Rijiju and Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted past Waqf claims over sensitive properties—including a Tamil Nadu temple, land in Delhi's Lutyens zone, land for a five-star establishment and even the old parliament building.

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain countered, saying, “They are creating confusion about 123 properties. They are either masjids, burial grounds or dargahs.”

Hussain argued that these were historical Waqf properties handed over during British rule.

“These properties are with the Waqf… These were the ones that are being referred to by them in relation to 2013,” he said.

A heated exchange erupted between Hussain and Shah when Hussain questioned BJP’s claim that people can't move court if they are aggrieved with the decision of the Tribunal.

"This is false. How are there so many pending cases in the High Court and Supreme Court if none could move court?" he said.

Shah shot back: "They (the Congress) did not keep a provision for a civil suit, which has a wide purview, in the court in the 2013 Act. They only have a provision for writ jurisdiction in the High Court, which has a very limited purview".

BJP chief and Union Minister J P Nadda supported the bill and accused the Opposition of attempting to divert and derail the issue and asserted that it would be good if they paid attention to the deprived sections of the Muslim community.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge urged the government not to turn the bill into a prestige battle.

This will lead to disputes in the country. You are sowing seeds for disputes... I appeal to the Home Minister to withdraw this. What is the harm in rectifying the errors?" he said.

Kharge cited the Lok Sabha vote—288 Ayes to 232 Noes—as proof of contention.

“If you go by 'jiski laathi uski bhains', this will not be good for anyone,” he said.

He questioned the inclusion of non-Muslims on Waqf Boards.

"In Tirupati, do you keep any Muslims? Are there Muslim members in the Ram Temple Trust? Let alone Muslims, you won't put a Dalit Hindu like me also there," he said.

The bill passed the Lok Sabha on Thursday morning after a 12-hour-long debate, with 288 MPs supporting and 232 opposing.

The bill, now headed to the President for approval, seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995.

The contentious provisions in the amended bill include mandatory inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards.

There is also the stipulation that only individuals who practiced Islam for at least five years can donate properties to Waqf.

The Opposition has questioned how the government intends to determine who a practicing Muslim is.

They have also argued that barring converts from making donations is an interference in the fundamental rights to practice religion and the law on equality.

Under the proposed law, government property identified as Waqf will cease to belong to it and the local Collector will determine its ownership.

The bill also proposes that an officer above the rank of collector will investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.

In case of disputes, the senior government official will make final decisions, replacing the existing Waqf Tribunal mechanism.

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