Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Rajya Sabha Passes Legislation After Hours-Long Ardent Debate; 128 MPs Vote In Favour, 95 Against

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge appeals to the government to withdraw the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 and not make it a prestige issue.

On the Waqf Amendment Bill, Maharashtra AIMIM President Imtiaz Jaleel says, "When the voting was completed, there was only a difference of around 50 votes. TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and JDU's Nitish Kumar have supported PM Modi out of fear, but how will they face the people when they go for elections after 4 months? Ajit Pawar is also supporting PM Modi... Now that the bill is passed, we will fight one fight on the road and another in the Supreme Court. But we don't have much hope from the Supreme Court... If there are judges who want to be NHRC Chairman or want a Rajya Sabha seat after retirement, then there is going to be no justice. Under PM Modi's rule, there are a lot of judges who go and sit next to PM Modi as soon as they retire and get good posts..."

Senior JD(U) leader Mohammed Qasim Ansari resigns from the party and all his posts over the party's stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill. "I am disheartened that I gave several years of my life to the party," his letter reads.

Former PM and JD(S) chief H.D. Devegowda says, "I must congratulate the PM. Why? The property, which has been mentioned, is about Rs 1.2 lakh crores. These properties have not been given by the Govt but by donors. If the donors have given and it has been misused and there are vested interests, now the present PM wants to put a seal, not to allow the donors' property which is given to the community for a particular purpose, to be swallowed by rich people or the people who are strong enough in the community to swallow this property…"

"This was done intentionally, politically, to divide the country...But one day, they will go away, and the other Government will come. At that time, you must remember there will be another amendment, and it will be passed in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said.

Union Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda says, "I stand here in support of the Bill, and I hope that the House will also support it. Mujhe umeed hai ki UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development) ka samarthan hoga. The basic aim of this Bill is to bring in reforms and proper management of Waqf properties. A lot of discussions have been held over this. Clamours are being made to bulldoze this Waqf Bill that has been brought by the Government of India. As the national president of a responsible political party, I put a stop to this clamour and oppose this narrative."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the new Bill will be named UMEED. He said that the Bill includes the recommendations of the Sachar panel.

"I appeal to Congress party and its allies to support Waqf Amendment Bill 2025," Kiren Rijiju in Rajya Sabha.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju started the debate from the side of the government and said, “We spoke to state governments, minority commissions, and waqf boards and brought this bill in the Parliament. JPC was formed…representatives from RS and LS were part of it. many people doubted over JPC consultations. Yesterday after long discussion….bill was passed in LS.”

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju initiated the Waqf Amendment Bill debate in the Rajya Sabha today, after the conclusion of the Question Hour.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: AAP MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that through the Waqf Amendment Bill, the government has “opened a way against all the communities”. He said that the party will also protest against the Bill in Rajya Sabha as well.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Various Muslim organisations have announced a mega protest against the Waqf Bill in Kolkata on Friday. The protests will take place after the Friday prayers.

Waqf Amendment Bill In Rajya Sabha Live Updates: BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agarwal will open the debate for the BJP over the Waqf Amendment Bill. He was a member of the JPC on the Bill.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: The Question Hour began in Rajya Sabha at 12 noon. The debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill will commence after the conclusion of the Question Hour at 1 pm.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: The Opposition demanded an answer from the leader of the House JP Nadda.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh stood up and demanded an apology.

“Would you take a seat or not?” the Chairman said told Jairam Ramesh.

“Why do you need and what do you need the answer for?” he added.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded an apology from BJP MP Anurag Thakur for his remarks made against him in the Lok Sabha. Thakur had accused Kharge of land grab.

The Opposition indulged in sloganeering in the Rajya Sabha as the House resumed at 11 am. Question Hour is underway in the House. The Question Hour began at 11 am.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Congress MP Sonia Gandhi termed the Waqf Amendment Bill as a “brazen attack on the Constitution” of the country.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: The Upper House will take up both the Waqf Bill and the resolution on ratifying President’s Rule in Manipur, which has been listed in the Revised Business List for Thursday. As far as the Waqf Bill goes, the BJP-led NDA is well placed in the Rajya Sabha too, with 125 MPs, including the BJP’s 98, the JD(U)’s four, the NCP’s 3, the TDP’s two, and the six nominated members.

Waqf Amendment Bill In Rajya Sabha Live Updates: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced in the state Assembly on Thursday, April 3, that his party DMK will move the Supreme Court against the Waqf Bill. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha yesterday and is all set to be taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha today.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: The Waqf Amendment Bill will be taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha at 1 pm today. The Question Hour will be held from 12 noon till 1 pm.

After getting a nod in the Lok Sabha, the much-hyped Waqf Amendment Bill is set to be taken up in the Upper House for a discussion. 

After a 10-hour heated debate, the Lok Sabha has begun voting on the amended Waqf Bill following the opposition’s request for a division of votes.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supported the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday while emphasising the need for greater autonomy for state governments in shaping the composition of waqf boards. The party urged the central government to incorporate provisions in the rules that allow states more flexibility in this regard.

Expressing support for the Waqf Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj and JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh said on Wednesday that the legislation is aimed at bringing transparency and ensuring the welfare of all sections of the Muslim community.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the Waqf Amendment Bill became necessary due to modifications introduced in 2013. According to him, the system was functioning seamlessly until the Congress-led government, aiming to woo voters before the 2014 elections, implemented significant changes to the Waqf Act. He alleged that merely 25 days before the elections, 123 prime properties in Lutyens’ Delhi were transferred to Waqf.

Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the chief priest of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed disappointment on Wednesday that the Joint Parliamentary Committee tasked with looking into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill had not addressed even one concern of the Muslim scholars from the Union Territory.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that the bill does not include any provision for non-Muslims to manage religious institutions, nor does the government intend to introduce such a measure.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi left from the Parliament. The debate in the Lok Sabha on the Waqf Amendment Bill is underway.The government took up the Bill today for discussion and passage.

Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the Waqf Bill will hurt India’s secular image in the world and is a part of the BJP’s “divisive agenda”.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe at the BJP, stating, “The world’s largest party has not been able to pick its national president”. Amit Shah responded to his remarks, stating, “All these parties have to choose their national president within 5 members. You won’t have any delay. I say it to you, you are the president for the next 25 years.”

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Waqf is not a religious body but a statutory body. The BJP MP also read out Article 25 from the Constitution to counter Gaurav Gogoi.

Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: As the debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is underway in Parliament, Odisha's opposition party Biju Janata Dal on Wednesday said it will oppose the contentious legislation.The party said it had made some suggestions to be incorporated into the Bill which were rejected.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi concluded his address in the Lok Sabha on the Waqf Amendment Bill. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad is speaking now.

Waqf Amendment Bill In Lok Sabha Live Updates: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that the amendments made in the new Bill will bring more litigation in the country. “Amendments should be made to strengthen the bill,” he said.

Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi hit out at the BJP, stating that the states ruled by the party banned offering namaz on roads during Eid. “This bill is anti-constitutional,” he said.

He further alleged that the government wants to “dilute the Constitution” through the Waqf Amendment Bill. “To dilute the Constitution, to defame the minority communities of India, to divide the Indian society, and to disenfranchise the minority communities,” he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi alleged that Kiren Rijiju misled the House during his address, prompting a response from the Union Minister.

“Just like the MP said that I misled the House, he should mention that where I misled,” Kiren Rijiju said.

“What he said about 2013, it is completely misleading,” Gogoi responded.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, led the party’s argument during the debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, following its tabling by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Waqf Amendment Bill is “prospective, not retrospective” and clarified that the legislation does not seek to snatch the properties of Muslims.

“This law is prospective, not retrospective. I want to say clearly that no one is taking away any property of Muslims. Property which has been registered will not be interfered with,” he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill In Lok Sabha Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the Muslim delegations visiting him have welcomed the Waqf Amendment Bill and the poor Muslims want it passed as soon as possible.

He further said that Waqf is a private property and cannot be compared to railway or defence property as the latter are public properties. “Why has Waqf property not been used to uplift poor Muslims? Why are you objecting if the Modi government is doing something for them?” he asked in the Lok Sabha.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that India has the largest Waqft properties in the world and they will have to be used for poor Muslims to benefit them.

“Those supporting and opposing this Bill will be remembered for years. The Waqf properties will have to be used for poor Muslims, they cannot be left like this,” he said in Lok Sabha.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju alleged in Lok Sabha that the Congress handed over 123 government properties to Waqf Board, leading to uproar by the Opposition.

Meanewhile, Rijiju said that the government has proposed including Shia, Sunnis, Bohras, Backward Muslims, women, and non-Muslim experts in the Waqf Board.

Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stressed that the Waqf Bill does not interfere with the religious beliefs of the Muslim community. He further said that it is only a matter of management of property.

Waqf Amendment Bill In Lok Sabha Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said in the Lok Sabha, “If we had not brought the Bill, the Parliament building was also being claimed as Waqf property.”

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju opened the debate from the BJP in Lok Sabha over the Waqf Amendment Bill and said, “When we are making some positive changes in the bill, why are we being questioned? Those who have nothing to do with the bill are being misled and instigated.”

Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha, “I want to congratulate members of the JPC from both the Houses. In total 284 delegations, 25 states, and union territory Waqf boards gave their submission in the JPC.”

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.“I move the motion to continue the bill in its new form and to repeal the old bill,” he said. TMC MP Saugata Roy proposed the consideration of the bill to be sent for Parliament scrutiny.

On Waqf Amendment Bill, AIMPLB spokesperson Dr Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas said, "If this bill is passed in the Parliament, then we will start a nationwide movement against it. We won’t sit quietly. We will make use of all legal and constitutional provisions available to us. We will run a peaceful agitation until the proposed amendments are taken back."

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi is unlikely to speak during today’s debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, according to media reports. Instead, Congress is expected to field minority leaders like Gaurav Gogoi, Imran Masood and Mohammad Javed to represent the party’s stance on the issue.

Waqf Amendment Bill In Lok Sabha Live Updates: CPI-M MP John Brittas said that the Waqf Amendment Bill will create polarisation in the society and stressed that the Opposition will unitedly oppose the legislation in the Parliament.

Waqf Amendment Bill In Lok Sabha Live Updates: NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule said that the Opposition is keeping an eye on Waqf Amendment Bill discussions. "We will see the Bill, discussions are going on. We are with the INDIA alliance and the INDIA alliance will remain together with full strength," she said as quoted by ANI.

The Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, will be the first speaker for the Waqf Bill debate, sources told The Indian Express. “Clause-by-clause discussion, which should have happened in the JPC, was not done. The government’s attitude from day one has been to bring such a law which is against the Constitution and minorities, which will disturb the peace in the country,” he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that some religious leaders are “misleading innocent Muslims” on the Waqf Amendment Bill. He claimed that many Congress leaders and Opposition parties say that there is a need for this Bill, “but they are opposing it for vote bank”.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Parliament on Wednesday, April 2 ahead of the debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Arjun Ram Meghwal met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ahead of the start of today’s proceedings.

Parliament Budget Session Live Updates: Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut alleged that the Waqf Bill is aimed at “inserting someone and giving land to favored industrialists”. The government will table the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha today. There will be an 8-hour-long discussion on the legislation.  

The Waqf Amendment Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2024 and sent to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) following Opposition demands.
The revised Bill is set to be tabled today.

The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to enhance the management and regulation of Waqf properties. It proposes renaming the Act, refining the Waqf definition, streamlining registration and incorporating technology for record maintenance. The original Act sought to regulate Waqf properties, but issues like mismanagement, corruption and encroachments have raised concerns over its effectiveness.

Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams criticised the opposition on Wednesday for opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. He asserted that poor Muslims trust Prime Minister Narendra Modi, contrasting his leadership with the previous seven decades. “It is '70 saal Vs Modi Karyakal',” he remarked, adding that the central government has decided to bring the poor Muslims into the mainstream.

Shams further accused the opposition of misusing Waqf resources during their decades in power. “They looted the Waqf. They looted the rights of the poor. They are scaring Muslims by saying mosques will be taken away,” he claimed. He alleged that groups like Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and the Muslim Personal Law Board oppose the Bill due to vested interests, asserting that PM Modi will ensure justice for poor Muslims.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav slammed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as “unconstitutional,” reaffirming his party’s opposition. He accused the BJP of imposing "Nagpur ka kanoon" and emphasised India's diversity as its strength. Yadav said the RJD has opposed the Bill in both Houses and Bihar’s legislature. “Such a Bill will never be acceptable to us. Despite his health issues, Lalu ji joined the protest, showing our unwavering stance. We are clear in our position: we will never accept this Bill,” he said.

Opposition parties met on Tuesday to strategise ahead of the Bill's introduction today. Congress, TMC and NCP-SP participated in the meeting. Criticising the Bill, Samajwadi Party chief whip Dharmendra Yadav issued a three-line whip, directing all party MPs in the Lok Sabha to attend proceedings on April 2 and take part in the debate.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is set to be introduced in Parliament today. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have directed their MPs to ensure their presence. The bill will be tabled after the Question Hour, followed by an eight-hour discussion, which could be extended if necessary.