Waqf Bill In Rajya Sabha LIVE: 'Don't Make It Prestige Issue, Withdraw It', Says Kharge

Waqf Bill In Rajya Sabha LIVE Updates: The opposition claimed that the Centre is "bulldozing the legislation" as it alleged to not have been given the time for amendments since the bill was brought to the notice of the House.

Tejashwi Yadav (Photo: ANI)

Waqf Bill In Rajya Sabha Live Updates: After the Waqf (Amendment) Bill crossed the Lok Sabha hurdle, the bill is set to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha. Following a debate, lasting over 12 hours, the Lok Sabha early Thursday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 after a heated exchange of views between the ruling NDA and the opposition bloc INDIA.

The marathon debate over the bill in the Lower House saw the BJP-led NDA strongly defending the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition described it as "anti-Muslim". The Bill was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition members were rejected by voice votes. It was passed after a division of votes -- 288 in favour and 232 against.

As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors. A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.

The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules. It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.

The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf. It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.

Numbers In Rajya Sabha

Just like the Lok Sabha, in the Rajya Sabha also the BJP-led NDA is well placed, with 125 MPs, including the saffron party’s 98, the JD(U)’s four, the NCP’s 3, the TDP’s two, and the six nominated members.

As far as the Opposition INDIA bloc is concerned, it has 88 MPs, including 27 from the Congress and 13 from the Trinamool Congress. Even if the seven MPs of the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD side with the opposition, the numbers won’t be enough.

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03 April 2025

03 April 2025 23:19 IST

Waqf Bill Live: BJP An Anti-Mulsim Party, Says Samajwadi Party

On Congress MP Sonia Gandhi's statement, SP MP Anand Bhadauria said, "We completely agree with Sonia Gandhi. We are against the Waqf Bill. If those people for whom the bills brought are not happy, then what is the purpose of this bill?... The bill would have been passed unanimously if the government had listened to the suggestions given by the Opposition. But the BJP is an anti-Muslim party and BJP and their capitalist friends' eyes are on the properties of the Waqf... The valuable land will go in the hands of the industrialists of this country..."

03 April 2025 23:11 IST

Waqf Amendment Bill In Rajya Sabha Live: NDA To Face Huge Loss In Bihar, Says Shukla

On Waqf Amendment Bill, Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said, "A lot of people have complaints regarding the Waqf Bill. People from the NDA are supporting it forcefully, and that is why people are resigning (Mohammed Kasim Ansari from the JD(U)). They will face a huge loss in Bihar..."