No intent to hurt Muslims: Govt in RS
The government on Thursday strongly defended the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 as being “in the national interest”, rejecting Opposition claims that it “targeted religious sentiments” or was “unconstitutional or illegal”.
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and Mussalman Wakf Repeal Bill in the Rajya Sabha, a day after the Bills were cleared in the Lok Sabha with 288 in its favour and 232 against it.
Speaking in the Upper House, the minister said the government had no intention to hurt religious sentiments of the Muslims and that an extensive process was undertaken by the Joint Parliamentary Committee while deliberating on the Bills.
Rijiju detailed the proposed structure for Waqf governance, saying the Central Waqf Council would comprise 22 members, with no more than four non-Muslim representatives. The council will include three MPs, 10 Muslim community members (with at least two women) and two retired judges from higher courts. The state Waqf boards would have 11 members, with a maximum of three non-Muslims.
He justified the reforms by referencing key reports documenting systemic issues. The 1976 Waqf Enquiry had found the boards dominated by mutawallis (caretakers), while the 2006 Sachar Committee recommended strengthening governance. He said while the Waqf lands had the potential to generate Rs 12,000 crore, only about Rs 160 crore was generated.
Rijiju recalled just before the enforcement of the model code of conduct ahead of 2014 LS elections, the then UPA government denotified 123 prime properties and handed these over to Delhi Waqf Board. These properties belonged to the Housing and Urban Affairs ministry, he said, adding at 8.72 lakh, the Waqf had the maximum number of properties in the world.
“Objections arise when the benefit from such properties are not transferred to poor Muslims. Proper management could transform millions of lives within 3-4 years,” Rijiju said.
Opposition leaders vehemently disagreed. Congress’ Abhishek Singhvi called the Bill “biased” and predicted judicial rejection, questioning ambiguous clauses. “This Bill is an attempt to take away constitutional provisions. Even if this Bill is passed, it will be declared unconstitutional in a few years,” he said.
Kapil Sibal contrasted Waqf’s 8 lakh hectares with Hindu trusts’ 10 lakh acres in “four southern states alone”, arguing Waqf properties’ divine nature makes them inviolable.
Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha JP Nadda said the Bill was in the nation’s interest and that it would not be used to bulldoze administrative reforms. He cited international precedents from Turkey (1924 reforms), Malaysia and Iran where governments regulate Waqf assets. He emphasised the Bill excluded protected monuments and tribal lands, framing it as nation-building for future generations rather than partisan politics.
Meanwhile, responding to Home Minister Amit Shah’s dare to deny that he ever linked the 26/11 attacks to the RSS, Congress MP Digvijay Singh said, “I never said this. This is your propaganda. You are talking about Muslims in a derogatory way. This kind of talk is condemnable.” Singh and Shah also sparred over the former’s remarks that “everyone knew who was responsible for the Gujarat riots of 2002”. After Singh said, “You were Home Minister when Gujarat riots happened”, Shah retorted, “I became Home Minister 18 months after that (the riots).”
A heated exchange erupted during the debate when Home Minister Amit Shah interrupted Congress MP Naseer Hussain’s remarks about Waqf tribunal provisions. The intervention prompted Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to demand Hussain be allowed to speak uninterrupted. Hussain challenged the government’s claim that the existing Waqf Act barred judicial appeals, pointing to numerous pending cases in higher courts. Shah countered, accusing Hussain of misinformation. “The 2013 Act only allows writ jurisdiction with limited scope, not civil suits which offer broader rights,” Shah asserted.
Additionally, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK STalin on Thursday said his party DMK and the state government would separately challenge the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 which the government rammed through the Lok Sabha last night.
Nation