Highlights: Lok Sabha clears Waqf Amendment Bill after marathon debate

Parliament Budget Session updates: The government has decided to table the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha today. Catch all the updates here

12:51 AM

Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed in Lok Sabha with 288 votes

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, receiving 288 votes.

 

Here’s the breakdown of the votes polled: 

 

Ayes: 288

 

Noes: 232

 

The House then moved to hold voice votes for various specific amendments. 

12:43 AM

Voting on Waqf (Amendment) Bill underway as debate concludes

Voting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is underway. The Opposition has asked for division of votes.

12:16 AM

If it was unconstitutional, why didn't the court strike it down, Kiren Rijiju counters

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed gratitude to all leaders for sharing their views on the Waqf Amendment Bill. Addressing concerns raised by some members, Rijiju questioned the claims that the Bill was unconstitutional.

11:48 PM

Kiren Rijiju replies to debate on Waqf (Amendment) Bill

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that allegations of the Bill being “unconstitutional” has been raised by the opposition, but they have not been able to give any reason behind it. “If it was unconstitutional, then why did no court strike it down.”

11:35 PM

Fadnavis needles Sena (UBT) on Waqf bill: 'Will see if they follow Bal Thackeray or Rahul Gandhi'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday tried to corner Shiv Sena (UBT) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, stating that people will soon know whether Uddhav Thackeray's party upholds Bal Thackeray's Hindu ideology or follows Rahul Gandhi.

10:58 PM

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind says Waqf Bill paves way for legislative discrimination against Muslims

Muslim organisation Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Wednesday slammed the Waqf Bill as "highly condemnable" and alleged that it paves the way for legislative discrimination against Muslims.

10:43 PM

Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a weapon aimed at marginalising Muslims: Rahul Gandhi

10:25 PM

Sections of Muslim community celebrate Waqf Bill introduction

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill sparked mixed reactions in Bhopal on Wednesday, with sections of the Muslim community welcoming it and thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while others, including Congress MLA Arif Masood, opposing the bill.

10:09 PM

AIMPLB objections have not been taken into consideration: Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali

Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali told ANI, "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..."

9:54 PM

BJP now targeting minorities properties through Bill, says Congress chief

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, 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."

9:41 PM

Waqf bill has nothing to do with religion, deals only with properties: Shah

9:26 PM

Shah says no interference in Muslims' religious matters as Oppn slams Waqf bill as unconstitutional

The ruling NDA on Wednesday launched a feisty defence of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha amid the opposition's charge that it was unconstitutional and targeted Muslims, as Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the government had no intention of interfering in their religious matters and was solely driven by the aim of transparent administration of Waqf properties.

9:06 PM

Waqf Amendment Bill will benefit poor Muslim families: Manjinder Singh Sirsa

The Waqf Amendment Bill is historic. This will benefit poor Muslim families, this is the idea of our Prime Minister. Our Prime Minister thinks even for the last person in the line.

9:01 PM

Waqf is being corrected so that it is available for all Indians: Rajyavardhan Rathore

For a long time, some people had made errors in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is correcting those errors. After the army and railways, the third largest institution that owns land is the Waqf Board. Now women are being admitted into it. Non-Muslims will become members. Now the Waqf is being corrected so that it is available for all Indians.

8:51 PM

Waqf Board was judiciary, legislature, executive all rolled in one: Tejasvi Surya

The concept of Section 40 - Waqf by User and Oral Waqf was a potent cocktail that enabled the Waqf Board to usurp any land that it wished. Those who had a problem with this were forced to go before the Waqf Tribunal. 

8:34 PM

Lok Sabha to discuss Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 till 10 pm today

The time of discussion on Waqf Amendment Bill has been extended till 10 pm.

8:20 PM

Shah, Akhilesh banter adds humour to feisty Waqf debate

The day-long debate on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was enlivened by moments of banter involving Home Minister Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, as the BJP leader fired ripostes at the rival's bid to play at the ruling party's internal developments. Yadav humorously asked Shah, who had just retorted to Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee's jibe during his intervention on the bill, to say something about Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as well.

7:56 PM

Last rites of Congress' appeasement politics: Anurag Thakur on Waqf bill in Lok Sabha

BJP MP Anurag Thakur on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress in the Lok Sabha for opposing the Waqf bill, saying the proposed law would be the last nail in the coffin of Congress's politics of appeasement.

7:49 PM

Waqf law was made 'extreme' in 2013 for appeasement ahead of parliamentary polls: Amit Shah

7:40 PM

Rumours being spread that Waqf bill will interfere with Muslims' religious matters: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asserted that for vote bank politics, fear is being spread that Waqf bill is interference in religious matters of Muslims and properties donated by them.

7:23 PM

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan backs Waqf Board reforms

Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Wednesday stressed the need for reforming the Waqf Board, citing widespread disputes over its properties.

7:06 PM

People have given PM Modi three terms, BJP govt will remain for three more terms: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

6:42 PM

Fadnavis, Shinde back Waqf Bill; Cong says govt wants to hand over land to industrialists

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday hailed the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, calling the proposed legislation a progressive step that reflects the word "secular" mentioned in the Constitution's preamble.

6:24 PM

Section 40 of Waqf Act and why its removal sparked controversy

The government on Wednesday introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha, aiming to bring significant changes in the structure of the Waqf Board and the functioning of Waqf properties across the country.

Read full report here

6:13 PM

Rules should ensure flexibility to states to decide composition of Waqf boards: TDP

NDA ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Wednesday urged the government to consider providing flexibility to the states to determine the composition of Waqf boards.

5:39 PM

When Waqf land claims turned lives upside down in Kerala and Karnataka

No sooner after the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed in the Parliament, past land disputes involving Christian and Hindu communities in Kerala and Karnataka came under renewed focus.

Read out full report here

5:21 PM

JD(U) endorses Waqf bill, says 'pasmanda' Muslims will stand with PM Modi for ensuring justice

Key BJP ally Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday delivered a full-throated endorsement of the Waf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha and accused opposition parties of trying to set a narrative that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anti-Muslim.

5:05 PM

Withdraw Waqf Bill, CM Stalin urges PM Modi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking withdrawal of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, saying it will harm the interest of Muslims.

4:42 PM

Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb listed as Waqf properties, says JPC

The Tomb of Safdar Jang, the Purana Quila, the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar in Delhi, the grave of Aurangzeb's Wife and the Gulbarga Fort in Karnataka are a few of over 200 protected monuments declared as Waqf properties, revealed a list given by the joint Parliament Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

4:25 PM

'Muslims welcome it, you must see it': Rijiju on Waqf Bill. Top quotes

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday tabled the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, initiating a discussion on behalf of the government. Defending the proposed amendments, Rijiju took aim at the Opposition for its resistance to the Bill while underscoring the necessity of these changes.  

 

Read out full report here