Waqf Amendment Bill Highlights: Mallikarjun Kharge rejects Waqf Bill, calls its divisive

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge rejected Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it divisive and would torment minorities. He added that the new legislation is no different from the 1995 Act, except for a few ones which would destroy people and their rights.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko rejected Waqf (Amendment) Bill saying the bill as anti-federal, anti-democratic, anti-secular legislation.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, Shiv Sena (Shinde) MP Milind Deora defends Waqf (Amendment) Bill saying Muslims today want empowerment and not appeasement.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Rajya Sabha, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal rejected the bill and questioned its donation purpose. He said that the Muslim community should not be targeted through legislation.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav stated that the legislation violated Article 26 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom to manage religious affairs.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking on Waqf bill in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister JP Nadda on Thursday cited a Supreme Court observation where he claimed SC said that attacking one's property is attacking one's right to life.

He added Waqf Bill has beebrought to regulate board's functioning and envisions removing hurdles in smooth functioning and the right use of Waqf properties.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking on Waqf bill in Rajya Sabha, Union Minister JP Nadda on Thursday responded to the opposition's criticism over "not long-enough debate". He added that around 200-hour-long discussions were held by the JPC over 36 sittings.

He also said that the bill has been brought to strengthen the nation in the future and urged the Opposition to look beyond vote-bank for the nation's development.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Opposing the Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that the Centre brought the Waqf bill to divert the nation's attention from Trump's tariffs on India move. He also took a dig at the BJP saying the BJP is suddenly worrying about Muslims' welfare. "Even Jinnah did not worry about Muslims as much as BJP," he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, RJD MP Manoj Jha rejects the government's Waqf (Amendment) Bill. He also questioned as to why the BJP-led government only experiments with the Muslim community. "Why not put Muslims on Hindu committees?" he asked.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Opposing the Waqf bill in the Rajya Sabha, AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the bill targets one particular community. He contended that BJP is trying to trigger riots through the Waqf Bill.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: DMK MP Tiruchi Siva, while speaking on the Waqf bill in Rajya Sabha, said on Thursday that the government is targeting one particular community through Waqf. He alleged the Centre does not listen to opposition's views.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Nadimul Haque on Wednesday, while speaking in Rajya Sabha, criticised the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025. He called it unconstitutional and in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.

"This bill mentions a condition that a person can create Waqf only after practising Islam for a minimum of 5 years. I want to ask - who will give a certificate that a person is a practising Muslim? This is unconstitutional and against Article 14," he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: BJP MP Radha Mohan Das on Thursday, while a debate on Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha, hit out at Congress's Nasser Hussain. He also claimed banned terror outfit spreading lies against bill.

"PFI's wing SDPI is spreading misinformation across the country, claiming that mosques will be snatched from Muslims," he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain on Wednesday, while a debate on Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha, accused the government of attempting to provoke communal tensions for electoral gains.

"Those properties exist even today and are in long usage, which is proof of them being in Waqf. There is 'Waqf by user', temple by user, gurudwara by user… How will you ask for proof for all? How will you ask for proof of age-old places? They (BJP) are trying to incite riots and make their vote bank," he said.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Congress MP Naseer Hussain, while speaking to Rajya Sabha, criticised the Waqf Amendment Bill, said, "The Waqf Amendment Bill is a targetted legislation. The government is aiming to make Muslims second-class citizens in the country."

He accused the BJP of communal polarisation and spreading misinformation.

"You do communal polarisation, and then you accuse us of doing polarisation... This bill is based on total falsity, and a misinformation campaign has been built in the last six months. the BJP's fake factory involved in spreading misinformation," he said.

He also added that the government disregarded all recommendations put forth by the Opposition in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain is now speaking against the Waqf Bill in Rajya Sabha.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking in Rajya Sabha on Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, will be renamed as the UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development) Bill."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: DMK MP Kanimozhi said on Lok Sabha passing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025: “It is a very sad day that a bill, which goes against the minority community of this country, was passed. This just shows how they don’t care about Manipur. After passing the bill, they brought up a very important discussion about Manipur at around 2 o’clock.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Union minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf bill in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: BJP leader Ravinder Raina said, "The debate that took place in the Parliament on the Waqf Amendment Bill makes one thing clear: property worth lakhs and crores is belonging to Waqf have been illegally occupied. This bill has been brought to address the mismanagement in the Waqf Board... The properties under Waqf are those donated for social and religious works meant for the welfare of our Muslim brothers, and this law has been introduced to manage them. No one should have any doubts about this... Some political parties are spreading lies due to vote-bank politics, but the Home Minister has made it clear that all Waqf properties are for the people of our Muslim community..."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Bill listed in Rajya Sabha Supplementary List, to be tabled at 1 pm.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Congress' chief Mallikarjun Kharge challenged Union minister Anurag Thakur over his allegation over Kharge's involvement in land scam. He said Thakur should resign if he fails to prove his allegations that “even one acre of Waqf land was occupied by Kharge or his family”. 

“Mai jhukunga nahi [I won't bow],” Kharge said.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: As the Rajya Sabha gears up to discuss the Waqf Amendment Bill, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain will open up the debate representing his party's views. He is also the whip for the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) in Rajya Sabha.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha has begun.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X, “The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights.”

He added, “This attack on the Constitution by the RSS, BJP and their allies is aimed at Muslims today but sets a precedent to target other communities in the future.”

“The Congress party strongly opposes this legislation as it attacks the very idea of India and violates Article 25, the Right to Freedom of Religion,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: At the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) general body meeting, Sonia Gandhi said, “Yesterday, the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, was passed in the Lok Sabha, and today, it is scheduled to come up in the Rajya Sabha.” 

“The bill was, in effect, bulldozed through. Our party's position is clear. The Bill is a brazen assault on the Constitution itself. It is very much part of the BJP's deliberate strategy to keep our society in a state of permanent polarization,” the senior Congress leader said.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma says, "It was a historic day when the Lok Sabha passed the bill. Today, it will be in Rajya Sabha. It will now bring a new era, especially for Muslim brothers; it will be a boon for the poor and backwards. It will not take away any of the Mosques or Eidgahs, but it will make things reasonable..."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi attempted to link the passage of Waqf Amendment Bill and the imposition of 26 per cent tariffs on India by US President Donald Trump. Read more here

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Congress will raise the issue of US reciprocal tariff in Lok Sabha during Question Hour, sources told ANI. Meanwhile, the Waqf Amendment Bill will be presented in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams says, "The faces of poor Muslims are blossoming like a lotus because the Waqf Amendment Bill has been passed. Good days are coming for poor Muslims as they are ready to join the mainstream... This bill has put a check on the excesses of the Waqf Board and on those Waqf mafias who have looted the Waqf and usurped the rights of poor Muslims... This day will be remembered as an economic revolution for poor Muslims."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: The controversial Waqf Amendment Bill is set to be tabled in Rajya Sabha today after it passed Lok Sabha test late Wednesday.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Samajwadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi said, "...A worse law than this has never been made for Muslims in this country. This bill has been passed by ignoring the Constitution...very serious questions will be raised in the country regarding this bill."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said, "12 bajne wale hain, 12 bajke paar ho gaye. Main... hamare liye 12 nahi bacha, opposition party ka 12 baj gaya hai..."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: According to a report, 288 members were in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, while 232 MPs voted against it.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: The Lok Sabha has passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: “AIMIM Chief Asasuddin Owaisi raised various issues and made an allegation that for the Muslims, provision is being made for the children of Muslims in the Waqf. Why is no provision being made for the Hindus? I want to tell him that there is already a provision for the Hindus. There is no need to make another law on it,” says Kiren Rijiju.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Voting underway for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: With the debate over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill still underway in Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in Lower House and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X and wrote, “Waqf bill weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights.”

“This attack on the Constitution by the RSS, BJP and their allies is aimed at Muslims today but sets a precedent to target other communities in the future. The Congress party strongly opposes this legislation as it attacks the very idea of India and violates Article 25, the Right to Freedom of Religion,” he added

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Commenting on the Waqf (amendment) bill 2025, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali said, as ANI quoted, "AIMPLB has filed many objections regarding the proposed amendments. Unfortunately, in today's speech of the Minority Affairs Minister, none of the objections filed by the Muslim community have been taken into consideration... Thats why we are opposing this bill. If this bill is passed by both houses of the Parliament, then we have the option of going to the Supreme Court. The legal experts have clearly said that there are many loopholes in these amendments and many of these amendments are against Articles 14, 25, 26, and 29, and 30 of our Constitution..."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Amid the debate on  Waqf (amendment) bill underway at Lok Sabha, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at BJP and alleged that the Centre, led by BJP, is targeting minorities properties through Bill. 

He took to X and wrote, “The Modi Government’s Waqf (Amendment) Bill is blatantly unconstitutional, undermining the Right to Freedom of Religion and attempting to bring personal laws under state control.”

“The BJP, which has long treated minorities as second-class citizens, is now targeting their properties through this Bill. The Congress party will oppose this divisive RSS/BJP agenda which is against the law the of the land,” he added. 

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: JMM MP Vijay Kumar Hansdak hits out at Centre, while speaking on the Waqf bill, saying the bill was brought by the BJP to benefit its corporate friends and not a community. Hansdak added that it's never "nation first" for the BJP, but "friends first".

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Lok Sabha Speaker on Wednesday extended time for debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 for two more hours till 10 pm.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Bihar Congress MP, Dr Mohammad Javed, opposes the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, while speaking at Lok Sabha and said, it is the Centre's ploy to usurp Muslims' land. He said that if the law is passed, half of India's population will be found fighting cases in the courts.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking at the Lok Sabha on Waqf bill, Indian Union Muslim League MP ET Mohammed Bashir slammed the government saying that the ruling party is conspiring to grab land through this legislation.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill at the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "How can any decision of the government or an organisation be outside the court's jurisdiction? Where will the person whose land has been taken go? Congress did this for vote-bank politics, and we are rejecting it. Anyone with grievances can approach the court."

He added, "Those who have grievances can challenge this in court. In 2013, Congress committed the sin of keeping the grievances of those whose land was taken away outside the court's jurisdiction... If land is being bought for a temple, the Collector reviews the ownership of the land. So, what is the objection to the Collector investigating whether Waqf land belongs to the government or not? Many temples, churches, and gurdwaras have been built, but they cannot be constructed on government land. Where Waqf is declared, only the Collector can determine whether the land is government-owned or not."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill at the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "When amendments to the Waqf were introduced in 2013, Lalu Prasad Yadav stated that he wanted a strict law and wanted to put those in jail who were stealing. Narendra Modi has fulfilled Lalu Prasad Yadav's wishes."

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill at the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress donated 123 VIP properties in New Delhi to the Waqf board just ahead of the 2014 polls. He also added Congress also donated railway land to the Waqf by making amendments to the Waqf Act in 2013.

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill at the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “..Waqf Act and Board came into effect in 1995. All the arguments about the inclusion of non-Muslims inclusion are about interference in the Waqf. First of all, no non-Muslim would come into the Waqf. Understand this clearly...There is no such provision to include any non-Muslim among those who manage the religious institutions; we do not want to do this...This is a huge misconception that this Act will interfere with the religious conduct of Muslims and interfere with the property donated by them. This misconception is being spread to instil fear among minorities for their vote bank.”

Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE: Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Bill at the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I stand in support of the Bill introduced by my ministerial colleague. I have been carefully hearing the discussion going on since 12 noon...I feel that there are several misconceptions among several Members, either genuinely or politically. Also, through this House, attempts are being made to spread those misconceptions across the country..."