A contentious debate between the nda and the india group over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is taking place in the lok sabha today. After Question Hour, the bill—which seeks to change the Waqf Act of 1995—was introduced, and there was an eight-hour debate that might go longer.
 
The opposition has called the bill unconstitutional and discriminatory against Muslims, despite the ruling BJP's claim that the changes will enhance the administration of waqf lands.  There will be a heated political confrontation because the india bloc has sworn to reject it.

What is the Waqf Bill?
The Waqf Act, 1954, which was modified in 1995, eventually took the place of the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, which was first passed during the colonial era.  The 1995 change, according to critics, benefitted Muslim communities and complicated waqf property management legally.
 
The 2024 Amendment Bill seeks to:

• Rename the Waqf Act
• Update the definitions of waqf
• Improve the registration process
• Introduce technology for better records management

The bill, along with legislation to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, was introduced in parliament on august 8, 2024.

What is center's stance?
Prime minister Narendra Modi declared last November, following the significant victory in Maharashtra, that "Waqf is an act of appeasement politics by the congress and it has no place in the Constitution."
 
According to the government, the measure intends to strengthen the effectiveness of Waqf boards and rectify the flaws in the previous act. The Act has been renamed, the definition of Waqf has been updated, the registration procedure has been improved, and technology has been integrated for improved record administration.

The government claims that these changes are necessary to enhance the management of Waqf holdings, boost productivity, and address issues that state Waqf boards are facing.  The primary goals of the bill are to update the name of the Act, improve Waqf definitions, change the registration procedure, and use technology to make record-keeping easier.
 
What does the opposition say?
The india group contends that the law may violate the rights of minorities by centralizing control over waqf properties.  They also take issue with the debate's short time allotment.
 
Opposition parties reiterated their opposition to the measure after months of discussion in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), claiming it threatens religious autonomy and local governance.

WHO SUPPORTS THE WAQF BILL?
Bharatiya Janata party (BJP)
Janata Dal (United)
Lok Janshakti party (Ram Vilas)
Telugu Desam party (TDP)
Shiv Sena
WHO IS AGAINST IT?
Congress mp K suresh confirmed that the india bloc unanimously opposes the bill. The opposition includes:

Congress
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
Samajwadi party (SP)
Nationalist congress party (NCP)
Trinamool congress (TMC)
Aam Aadmi party (AAP)
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)
Communist party of india (Marxist) [CPI(M)]
Communist party of india (CPI)

CAN bjp PUSH IT THROUGH?
Lok Sabha: To pass the bill, the bjp needs 272 votes in the lok sabha (542 members total). The nda has:

BJP: 240 MPs

JD(U): 12 MPs

TDP: 16 MPs

LJP (RV): 5 MPs

RLD: 2 MPs

Shiv Sena: 7 MPs

If the nda remains united, the bill is likely to pass.
 
 

 
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Waqf Bill

G GOWTHAM

02/04/2025 12:54 PM