Waqf amendment bill live updates: Rajya Sabha passes the legislation a day after Lok Sabha nod

Rajya Sabha on Friday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 after a fiery debate on the issue.

Rajya Sabha is currently voting on Waqf (Amendment) Bill after an hours long debate.

Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju is replying to the debate on Waqf bill. He said that the government listened to every suggestion and the opposition shouldn't be saying otherwise.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla on Thursday predicted a huge loss for the NDA in the upconing Bihar assembly election later this year due to the Waqf bill.

"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," Shukla told ANI.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The 1995 Act was accepted with consensus, yet the same people now claim it was flawed. They say they are creating a new law for the poor and minorities, but this Bill offers nothing new except provisions that harm people."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, "There is a perception in the country that this Bill has been introduced to trouble minorities. If there were significant changes to the 1995 Act, we would have accepted it. But they have merely repeated what was already there... I have a comparative statement... The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha with 288 Ayes and 232 Noes. Was it unanimously accepted? This shows there are flaws in it. You should reconsider this... Ruling by force ('jiski laathi uski bhains') will not benefit anyone."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking from Jaipur, Rajasthan, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot criticised the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating, "They are unnecessarily creating an issue, as they often do to distract people... Just like with the three farm laws, which they later had to repeal... They make decisions and pass bills without consulting stakeholders."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah remarked that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill "fulfilled the wishes of RJD president Lalu Prasad," the former Bihar CM responded with a sharp retort on Thursday.

Shah's comment in the Lok Sabha referenced a 2013 speech by Prasad, who was then a member of the House, where he had advocated for "more stringent" amendments to the Waqf introduced by the Congress-led UPA government, in which the RJD was a coalition partner.

In response, Prasad posted a short video clip of his speech on X, criticising the "ignorant fools of BJP and Sangh" without naming Shah or any other leader.

"I had stood for a stringent law for protecting Waqf land, which you are trying to grab," wrote the RJD chief, who last week joined a protest organized by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

Prasad, known for halting the Ayodhya Rath Yatra by arresting Lal Krishna Advani in 1990 while serving as Bihar's CM, expressed his disappointment at not being in Parliament during this critical time. "I regret not being in Parliament at a time when rights of Muslims, other minorities, and the poor in general, and the Constitution itself are under attack. I would have taken on these people alone (akela hi kaafi tha)," he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Senior JD(U) leader Mohammed Kasim Ansari has resigned from the party and all his positions, citing dissatisfaction with its stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

"...I am disheartened that I gave several years of my life to the party," he wrote in his resignation letter.

The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, was passed in the Lok Sabha after an intense and lengthy debate. While members of the INDIA bloc strongly opposed it, the BJP and its allies backed the bill, arguing that it would enhance transparency and streamline Waqf board operations.

The session extended beyond midnight, and Speaker Om Birla announced the voting results: "Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Father Thomas Tharayil of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) stated that its impact on cases like Munambam will only be clear once it becomes law. He mentioned that KCBC had urged Kerala MPs to back the amendment but was disappointed as they voted against it. He clarified that KCBC did not call for full support of the bill but for backing specific clauses addressing issues like Munambam. Expressing gratitude for its passage in the Lok Sabha, he hoped the bill would bring relief to the people of Munambam once enacted.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan recalled his time in the Uttar Pradesh Waqf ministry, saying he saw nothing but litigations. Referring to the 1980 Muslim Women's Protection Act, he noted that it mandated financial support for divorced women from the Waqf Board if they had no one to care for them. However, when he inquired in Parliament two years later about the funds allocated for this purpose, the response was that no Waqf Board had made any provisions or granted even a single penny.

Highlighting the state of the Waqf Board, he pointed out that despite owning numerous properties, it struggled to pay salaries. "Where is this money going? Clearly, there is mismanagement, and reforms are necessary," he said, adding that while he was unsure if the bill would bring change, improvements were long overdue.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Thursday criticised the Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it a violation of Article 25 of the Constitution, which ensures freedom of religion.

Speaking in Budgam’s Chadoora area, he termed it an "unnecessary interference" in Muslim religious matters.

He pointed out that over 200 MPs opposed the Bill in the Lok Sabha, questioning the government's claim that it benefits the Muslim community. "What is the point of introducing a Bill for Muslims when they themselves are against it?" he asked.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: LJP (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary defended the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating it is not unconstitutional.

She pointed out that the bill was reviewed by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which included Congress members, and their suggestions were incorporated. Criticising the opposition, she said they were labelling the bill unconstitutional without presenting valid arguments. She also accused them of misleading the country with baseless claims.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: A police official told PTI on Thursday that several members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have been booked for staging an unauthorised protest in Maharashtra's Thane district, against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

The protest took place on Wednesday in Mumbra, he added.

"We have registered a case against 20 individuals, but no arrests have been made so far. They have been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Maharashtra Police Act for disobeying a public servant's order and other related offences," the official stated.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said its passage is a “moment of joy for every Indian.”

He questioned the legitimacy of institutions arbitrarily claiming private property, emphasising that people now understand the distinction between Waqf and the Waqf Board.

He asserted that India will function according to the Constitution, reaffirming that Dr B R Ambedkar’s Constitution ensures equality for all.

Meanwhile, several opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha wore black as a symbol of protest against the bill.

The Lok Sabha had passed the bill with a 288-232 vote in the early hours of Thursday after a debate lasting over 12 hours.

In the Upper House, Union minister Kiren Rijiju defended the bill, stating that it aims to bring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing Waqf properties. He clarified that only a Muslim can be a 'Waqif' and dismissed concerns about non-Muslim members dominating the Central Waqf Council.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Union Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda, while discussing the Waqf Amendment Bill, asserted that the legislation is aimed at the national interest and not vote-bank politics.

"I stand here in support of the Bill and hope that the House will back it as well. Mujhe umeed hai ki UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development) ka samarthan hoga. The primary objective of this Bill is to introduce reforms and ensure proper management of Waqf properties. Extensive discussions have taken place on this matter. There are attempts to discredit and oppose this Waqf Bill introduced by the Government of India. As the national president of a responsible political party, I reject this narrative and firmly counter such claims," Nadda said.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill, which was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday and is now being discussed in the Rajya Sabha, state Congress President YS Sharmila strongly criticized the BJP.

"Yesterday, we saw how the BJP not only crushed the aspirations of the Muslim community but also violated the Constitution of India. It is clear they do not consider Muslims as part of this country," she said.

She accused the BJP of pushing a divisive agenda for electoral gain, saying, "Once again, the BJP is using religion to create division and exploit polarized votes."

Expressing disappointment over CM Chandrababu Naidu's support for the Bill, she said, "Many Muslims in the state voted for him, yet within a year, he and Pawan Kalyan have forgotten them. This is not just a betrayal—it’s a stab in the heart."

She further condemned Naidu’s remarks on Waqf land, stating, "A CM claiming that Muslim lands don’t belong to Muslims but to land mafias is outrageous. This equates Muslims to mafias and terrorists—this is atrocious."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde hit out at Shiv Sena (UBT) for opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing them of abandoning Hindutva and Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology.

"Shiv Sena (UBT) has shown its true face by opposing the Bill. They have completely given up on Hindutva... This is unfortunate," Shinde said.

He further alleged that their stance was a "biggest crime", leaving even their supporters and allies ashamed.

Defending the amendment, Shinde stated that it would end the monopoly of a select few over Waqf properties, accusing the Congress of wanting to keep the poor in poverty.

"Uddhav Thackeray echoed the same views as Asaduddin Owaisi," he remarked.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray accused the Union government of targeting Waqf board land, warning that it could next shift focus to temples, churches, and gurudwaras amid the discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, after its passage in the Lower House early Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference hours after the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, Thackeray said his party opposed the BJP's "fraudulent stand" on the Bill.

He alleged that the government’s move was a "ploy to seize Waqf land and hand it over to its industrialist friends."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking on DMK's protest over the Waqf Amendment Bill, BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan criticised the party for creating an atmosphere of agitation.

"It's unfortunate, they changed the environment as if it is a place for agitation. They shouted slogans demanding the Central Government withdraw the Bill, despite the fact that enacting laws is its prerogative, which no state assembly can question... Time and again, the DMK tries to portray itself as a champion of Muslim and Christian communities. We clearly see that this is vote bank politics. But today, it was unfortunate to see all Members shouting slogans to withdraw the Bill passed in Parliament yesterday," she said.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai called the DMK’s protest in the state assembly a "predictable misadventure" aimed at appeasing its minority vote bank.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: After the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha and taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Delhi State Haj Committee chairperson Kausar Jahan called it a historic moment.

"It is a historic day. The Waqf Amendment Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha and today it will be passed in the Rajya Sabha as well. It has proved to be a milestone under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi... Waqf properties will be managed and put to good use... It is a good step for the welfare of the 'qaum'..." she said.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, TMC MP Nadimul Haque questioned the provision requiring a person to practice Islam for at least five years to create Waqf.

"Who will certify that someone is a practising Muslim? This is unconstitutional and violates Article 14," he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: As the Rajya Sabha debates the Waqf Amendment Bill, after its passage in the Lok Sabha, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath accused some people of prioritizing vote-bank politics over preserving historical sites like Prayagraj.

"Some people did not want a 'Pauranik' place like Prayagraj to gain its identity because their vote bank was important for them... In the name of Waqf, they had tried to capture land here in Prayagraj and other cities as well. When we were organizing Maha Kumbh, the Waqf Board made arbitrary statements that the land of Kumbh in Prayagraj was also Waqf land. Is it the Waqf Board or the 'Land Mafia' Board?"

He added that his government had already eliminated the mafia from Uttar Pradesh and expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for bringing accountability to the Waqf Board through the new legislation.

"We are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for putting a check on the Waqf Board and doing welfare work by passing this important act in the Lok Sabha. Today, it will be passed in the Rajya Sabha as well."

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: Jammu and Kashmir's Janata Dal United president G M Shaheen, speaking to ANI, stressed the need for transparency in Waqf management, stating that it would benefit Muslims who were previously deprived. He cited instances where Waqf properties and dargahs were turned into five-star hotels, particularly in Jharkhand, and argued that funds would now remain secured.

"Those who looted that money, built homes with that money – we wanted freedom from all of that. It was essential to bring transparency into this. In the system so far, people have captured Waqf properties and turned them into a source of personal income. This Waqf Bill was necessary to end that."

He also dismissed opposition claims about Muslim vote bank politics, noting that elections were approaching in Bihar and two other states but insisted that the Bill was aimed at the welfare of Muslims.

Waqf Amendment Bill Live Updates: UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya expressed confidence that the Waqf Amendment Bill would pass in the Rajya Sabha as well.

Maurya told ANI, "The government, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, is correcting the cancerous issues bequeathed by the Congress government to India one by one... Earlier, some mafia-type people were taking advantage of Waqf but now poor Muslims will reap its benefits..."

The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the early hours of Thursday. While INDIA bloc members strongly opposed the Bill, the BJP and its allies backed it, arguing that it would improve transparency and efficiency in Waqf board operations.

The House continued its session beyond midnight to pass the Bill. Announcing the division result, Speaker Om Birla said, "Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal."