Lok Sabha Debates Waqf Amendment Bill Amid Political Sparring

New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed a heated debate as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, asserting that key government properties, including the Parliament building, Delhi airport premises, and the CGO Complex, could have been classified as Waqf properties had the amendment not been introduced.

Presenting the Bill in the House, Rijiju stated, "A case ongoing since 1970 in Delhi involved several properties, including the CGO Complex and the Parliament building. The Delhi Waqf Board had claimed these as Waqf properties. The case was in court, but at that time, the UPA government denotified 123 properties and handed them over to the Waqf Board."

The Bill, he said, would be renamed as the ‘Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Bill.’ Rijiju stressed that "had we not introduced this amendment today, even the Parliament building we are sitting in could have been claimed as Waqf property."

He further emphasized, "Had the Narendra Modi government not come into power, several properties would have been de-notified." He also clarified that Waqf properties are private in nature and should not be compared with government land banks such as those owned by the railways or the armed forces.

Reference to Badruddin Ajmal’s Remarks

Rijiju’s comments also responded to AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal’s October 2024 statement, in which Ajmal had claimed that the Parliament building and surrounding areas were constructed on Waqf properties. Ajmal had also suggested that parts of Vasant Vihar were built on Waqf land. At the time, Rijiju had dismissed these claims, stating that India had “the largest Waqf properties” and that they should be utilized for the welfare of Muslim women and children.

Widespread Consultations on the Bill

Rijiju highlighted the extensive discussions that had taken place on the Bill, stating, "The discussion that has taken place on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Joint Committee of both Houses has never been done in the parliamentary history of India to date."

He further added, "To date, a total of 284 delegations from stakeholders of different communities have presented their views and suggestions before the committee. Waqf boards from 25 state governments and union territories have also made their submissions."

Defending the Bill, he asserted, "After supporting the Bill, you all come to my office after one year… I will let you know about the transformational impact of the Bill." He also stated that the government had accepted several recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and dismissed allegations that the committee’s suggestions had been ignored.

On governance reforms, Rijiju mentioned that a maximum of four non-Muslim members, including two mandatory women members, could now be part of the Waqf Council. "At present, there are no women in the Waqf Board," he pointed out.

Congress Challenges the Bill

Following Rijiju’s remarks, Congress MP and Deputy Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi countered the claims, calling them "misleading." He argued, "The day this Bill was introduced, the minister claimed that there had been comprehensive discussions over it. This is completely misleading. There was no mention of the need for a new Waqf (Amendment) Bill during the five meetings of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. We have seen the minutes of these meetings."

Gogoi further questioned, "Did the Minority Affairs Ministry make this Bill, or did some other department make it? Where did this Bill come from?"

He also raised concerns about the government's role in religious matters, stating, "Today, the condition of minorities in the country has become such that the government will have to give a certificate of their religion. Will they ask for a certificate from other religions whether you have completed five years or not? Why is this being asked in this Bill? Why is the government interfering in this matter of religion?"

Legislative Consideration

The Lok Sabha took up the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which incorporates recommendations from the JPC that had reviewed the version tabled in August last year. Additionally, the House considered the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for debate and passage. The deliberations reflected the political divide over the management and oversight of Waqf properties, underscoring broader concerns over governance and religious autonomy in India.