The Lok Sabha session began with intense discussions on Wednesday as Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. 

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, taking part in the Waqf Bill debate, said, “Some claim that the government will snatch Masjids and Dargahs — these were the people who claimed that Muslims’ citizenship would be snatched by CAA? Has that happened? Will you apologise for misleading people?” “We will welcome your suggestions when we make the Rules or subordinate legislation. We have changed the definition to ensure that Muslims can govern their own properties through the Waqf Board or a Trust. We have become MPs not on the basis of religion. We represent all people of our constituency. How can we, then, ask how non-Muslims are being included in it? Because this is just property management, it is not about religion. Under this, a man can create a Waqf only on property fully owned by him. No one can deprive women and children of the family of their rights to create a Waqf,” he added further. Rijiju announced that the Waqf Bill will be renamed as the Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill. 

Meanwhile, criticising the NDA-led government, Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said, “This Bill is an attack on the basic structure of the constitution. Through this Bill, the government wants to dilute the constitution, defame the minority communities, divide the Indian society, and disenfranchise the minority communities. Recently, their double-engine governments did not allow people to read the namaz on the roads. How many minority MPs do you have?”The Union Minister clarified that the Bill does not aim to interfere with any religious practices or the management of mosques. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after passing the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, as the opposition staged a walkout.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaking in the Lower House in support of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill stated, “Unknowingly or for political reasons, several misinformation is being spread by Opposition MPs. Waqf means ‘donation for religious charities in the name of Allah’. Waqf is one type of charitable endowment without any intention of taking it back. Donations can be done only of one’s own property, not government property”.

He further clarified, “No provision to appoint any non-Muslim member to Waqf. We do not wish to do this. There will be no interference in Muslims’ religious matters. They are opposing this to appease their vote banks.” Shah referenced RJD chief Lalu Yadav’s 2013 remarks on Waqf amendments, stating, “He had called for a strong law to prevent misuse of Waqf properties. While you couldn’t fulfill his vision, Narendra Modi did.” He stated that the new Bill will be applied retrospectively. Defending the role of collectors in determining Waqf property status, he added, “This is the standard procedure for all land transactions. You must prove that the land being declared as Waqf property does not belong to the government.”

Amit Shah explained in the Lok Sabha that for administrative purposes, non-Muslim members can also be appointed to the board and Parishad. “Can a Hindu, Jain or Sikh charity commissioner not be from another religion? You will break the nation. This Bill was not necessary if they had not amended the Bill in 2013 and made it extreme. Ahead of 2014 polls, for appeasement, they gave away prime lands of Lutyens Delhi as Waqf properties,” Shah said.

He claimed 400 acres of the Thiruchendur temple were handed over as Waqf property. “They ask us not to keep a note of these donations. This wealth belongs to poor Muslims and not the rich boards,” Shah added. “Opposition MPs are spreading misinformation, either unknowingly or for political reasons. Waqf refers to a donation for religious charities in the name of Allah—an irrevocable charitable endowment. Donations can only be made from one’s own property, not government land,” he further said. He added, “There is no provision to appoint non-Muslim members to Waqf, nor do we intend to do so. There will be no interference in Muslim religious matters. The opposition is protesting this solely for vote bank appeasement.” 

Meanwhile, Congress MP KC Venugopal challenged BJP MP Anurag Thakur to provide proof that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge owns any Waqf properties. Venugopal criticised the BJP for focusing on politics instead of addressing important issues like job creation and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) law. He pointed out that while the Vaishno Devi Act requires a Hindu chairman or nominee for its board and Devaswom Boards operate similarly, the Waqf Board is being treated differently. He questioned the BJP's approach, calling it discriminatory and part of a larger agenda.  

Meanwhile, taking part in Waqf Bill debate, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “This country belongs to the Muslim community as much as it to the Hindus, there is no doubt in it. However, who will be the ideals of the Muslim community? People who do business of votes will be the ideals of the Muslim community. If this is so, then it won’t be acceptable to the country. We want to say it humbly that the ideals of the Muslim community will be Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr APJ Kalam, Abdul Hamid, Ashfaqulla Khan, Raskhan, Kabir, Malik Muhammad Jayasi. When fast bowler Mohammad Shami takes a wicket, the entire nation erupts in joy. When Sania Mirza makes India proud in tennis, everyone celebrates it. We felt that ‘saudagiri’ of votes will be stopped, but it didn’t.”

However, LJP (Ram Vilas) leader Arun Bharti supported the Bill, whereas PV Midhun Reddy from YSRCP and Sudhakar Singh from RJD opposed it. Speaking in the Lower House on Wednesday, Arun Bharti stated, “The aim of the Bill is to establish transparency in the management of Waqf properties. Yet, the opposition is focusing on the religious angle, though there are economic, administrative, social, and legal aspects of it. But the opposition just focuses on the religious aspect.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Anurag Thakur, taking a dig at the Congress in the Lower House, said, “The Waqf Board is about to claim Anand Bhawan (once the Nehrus’ residence in Allahabad) and National Herald. Will you give it?” Thakur stated that Lalu Prasad had once accused the Waqf Board of taking over the land of the Patna Dak Bungalow. He also criticised the Congress, calling it "anti-Hindu" and claiming that it had not done anything for Muslims either.

In contrast, he said that the Narendra Modi government has provided basic services and welfare benefits to Muslims. He also stated that several Congress leaders in Karnataka had been accused of misusing land under the name of Waqf. According to him, this was the reason why the Congress opposed transparency.