The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill late on Wednesday night after a marathon debate lasting over 12 hours. The Bill, which has stirred considerable political debate, has now been taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha today.
In the Lok Sabha, the Bill secured 288 votes in favour, while 232 votes were cast against it. The discussion saw extensive arguments from both the ruling and opposition benches, with lawmakers presenting their views on the proposed amendments.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday following the conclusion of the Question Hour. Today, after the Question Hour, which takes place from 12 noon to 1 pm, the Rajya Sabha began its debate on the legislation.
The Upper House is expected to continue the discussion until 11 pm, after which voting will take place. Once the debate on the Bill concludes, discussions on the situation in Manipur will commence.
As the Rajya Sabha prepares to vote on the Bill, the absence of three to four Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs has raised concerns within the opposition ranks. Among those not present are Sanjeev Arora and Harbhajan Singh, which could impact the final vote count.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha has been adjourned until 11:00 am on 4 April, following the approval of The Protection of Interests of Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025 for discussion.
During the proceedings, Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh Narayan Singh rejected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s request to reschedule the three-hour-long discussion on Manipur for another day.
Singh asserted that the matter had been scheduled for debate today and would proceed as planned.
Political Reactions Intensify
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav responded to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks, which suggested that the Waqf Bill had fulfilled Yadav’s long-standing demands. Shah stated that Yadav had previously called for stronger amendments to Waqf-related laws.
In response, Yadav clarified that he had advocated for stricter regulations to protect Waqf land from encroachments but accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to seize such properties. He criticised the ruling party, branding its members as “ignorant fools of the BJP and the Sangh.”
Veteran Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of exploiting religious issues for political gains. He argued that since 2014, the party had persistently kept the focus on the Muslim community through narratives like ‘Love Jihad,’ ‘Flood Jihad,’ and ‘Thook Jihad.’ He further asserted that the BJP’s strategy was to continuously highlight Muslim-related issues to serve its electoral interests.
Sibal also remarked that while the government was keen to introduce amendments to Waqf laws, it should have considered revising the Hindu Code Bill as well.
He pointed out that Waqf properties, by law, belong to God and cannot be sold, unlike assets held by trusts, which can be disposed of under specific conditions.
Congress MP and poet Imran Pratapgarhi made an emotional appeal in the Rajya Sabha, urging members not to pass the Bill. He argued that it was designed to demean the Muslim community and appease the majority population.
BJD’s Unexpected Move Shakes Up the Numbers Game
In an unexpected development, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced on Thursday that it had not issued a party whip, allowing its seven Rajya Sabha MPs to vote according to their conscience.
This decision has added an element of uncertainty to the numbers game, as the BJP-led government holds only a slim majority in the Upper House.
The move has fuelled speculation that BJD could play a crucial role in determining the fate of the Bill, especially if any BJP ally decides to change its stance at the last moment.
BJP National President JP Nadda, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, alleged that over the years, 5,970 government properties, including lakes, had been misclassified as Waqf land due to loopholes in the existing laws.
His statement was met with strong objections from opposition leaders, who accused the ruling party of attempting to create a misleading narrative.
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