Parliament Passes Waqf Amendment Bill: Key Updates from Budget Session Day 17

Speedy Summary

• Parliament has adjourned sine die after passing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 following extensive debates in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
• Lok Sabha passed the bill after a 12-hour debate, with Home minister Amit Shah assuring that it does not interfere with Muslim religious practices.
• Rajya Sabha cleared the bill early Friday morning after a 14-hour session; 128 members voted in favor, and 95 opposed. The government emphasized transparency in Waqf property management while opposition leaders voiced concerns about potential discrimination against Muslims.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the passage of this bill as a “watershed moment” for socio-economic justice.Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi criticized its passage, calling it forced and questioning its fairness during deliberations in Lok Sabha. Congress plans to challenge the bill’s constitutionality in Supreme Court soon.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The swift passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill underscores an effort to reform administrative frameworks governing religious properties while highlighting polarizing perspectives within Parliament on inclusivity and minority rights. While proponents argue for increased transparency, opposition voices raise critical questions on intent-underscoring broader concerns about equitable representation under India’s democratic framework.This legislative move carries broader implications beyond governance-it will likely influence inter-community relations nationwide while heightening judicial scrutiny over its constitutionality once challenged by Congress.

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