NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill following a heated 12-hour debate, during which the government defended the proposed changes against opposition allegations of constitutional overreach, attacks on federalism, and encroachment on Muslim rights.
The bill was approved by a margin of 288 votes in favor and 232 against, with BJP securing the crucial backing of its ‘secular’ allies to push the legislation past the majority mark. Confident of victory, Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a sharp rebuke to the opposition, declaring, “You made these changes only to protect your vote bank, and we have decided to undo them.”
The bill is expected to pass easily in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. While the Lok Sabha debate followed the familiar ‘secular versus communal’ fault lines, the bill’s passage represents a significant milestone for the BJP-led government. Following the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the criminalization of triple talaq, and the Uniform Civil Code enactment in Uttarakhand, the approval of the Waqf Bill marks the fourth time the government has successfully advanced its agenda despite resistance from opposition parties and Muslim organizations.
BJP’s Growing Support and Political Calculations
This latest victory is particularly notable given BJP’s lack of a full majority, making its ability to secure support from ‘secular’ allies even more significant. Analysts suggest that these allies see greater political benefits in aligning with the ruling party than in maintaining opposition unity. Their confidence likely stems from the belief that any loss of Muslim support will be outweighed by gains from their BJP partnership.
Fiery Exchanges in Lok Sabha
The daylong debate saw Congress deputy leader Gaurav Gogoi accuse the government of using the bill to attack the Constitution’s basic structure, defame minorities, and create social divisions.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, dismissed these claims, asserting that the bill was strictly about property management and had no impact on religious freedom. “The government is not interfering in any religious institution. The UPA’s amendments gave the waqf law an overriding effect over other laws, making these new changes necessary,” he stated, as opposition members protested.
The BJP’s position was further strengthened by backing from its key allies, including TDP, JDU, Shiv Sena, and LJP, while the INDIA bloc stood united in opposing the bill.
Opposition Alleges Political Motive
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed the bill was an attempt at polarization, designed to shore up BJP’s base following setbacks in the Lok Sabha polls. He warned that the bill would damage India’s secular image internationally and could prove to be BJP’s ‘Waterloo’, as even some of its allies were privately unhappy about the move.
Amit Shah’s Defense and Congress Criticism
Responding to opposition attacks, Amit Shah strongly defended the bill and rejected the claim that allowing non-Muslims to serve on waqf boards violated community rights.
Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also targeted the Congress, accusing the party of political opportunism and failure to empower minorities. Citing the Shah Bano case, he argued that Congress had historically prioritized vote-bank politics over necessary legal reforms. “When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Shah Bano, the Rajiv Gandhi government overturned the decision just to appease certain sections. Congress had 400 seats then, but never won a majority after that. Today, they continue to oppose reforms for the same political reasons,” he said.
Along with the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Rijiju also introduced the Mussalman Waqf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, which was passed in the Lok Sabha.
With the bill now moving to the Rajya Sabha, political tensions remain high as both sides prepare for the next round of legislative battle.
