As Parliament clears the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, a storm brews outside. Is it a push for transparency or a power grab cloaked in reform?
In the early hours of Friday, a heated 13-hour debate in the Rajya Sabha culminated in the passage of one of the most controversial legislative acts in recent memory — the Waqf Bill, 2025. Hailed by the Modi government as a “watershed moment” for transparency and inclusive growth, the Bill is now facing fierce resistance from opposition parties who call it an assault on constitutional values and minority rights.
With protests simmering in the streets, security beefed up around educational hubs like Jamia Millia Islamia, and the Congress party preparing to move the Supreme Court, the Waqf bill Amendment debate has swiftly escalated from a parliamentary contest to a national flashpoint.
Rajya Sabha passes historic Waqf Amendment Bill a day after approval by Lok Sabhahttps://t.co/OIXaWmpC5u
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 4, 2025
via NaMo App pic.twitter.com/vr2KLSbY5M
A Deeply Divided Vote
In the Lok Sabha, the waqf Bill passed with 288 votes in favor and 232 against. A day later, the Rajya Sabha echoed the divide: 128 ayes, 95 nays. Numbers alone don’t convey the full spectrum of discontent.
For the ruling BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill represents a long-overdue restructuring of a system mired in opacity. For opposition parties — including the Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP, and Left fronts — it’s something else entirely: a legislative battering ram aimed at minority institutions, particularly Muslim-led ones.
What the Bill Changes
Originally enacted in 1995, the Waqf Act governs endowments made for religious, educational, or charitable purposes under Islamic law. The 2025 amendment, introduced after Joint Parliamentary Committee reviews, aims to overhaul the system of waqf property management by:
- Improving the registration and record-keeping of waqf properties
- Increasing the use of technology in maintaining waqf databases
- Enhancing state and central oversight over waqf boards
- Streamlining administrative control for “efficient governance”
The government argues that the reform was necessary to correct decades of dysfunction. PM Modi, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), pointed out how the lack of transparency had especially harmed Pasmanda Muslims, poor Muslims, and Muslim women — groups often overlooked even within the community.
Moved two significant bills in the Lok Sabha today – The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 & The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for consideration and passing. @MOMAIndia @sansad_tv#Parliament #BudgetSession2025 pic.twitter.com/LOEa7PDpdQ
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) April 2, 2025
The Opposition’s Charge: “Unconstitutional, Anti-Muslim”
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh minced no words, calling the Bill’s passage an “assault on the Constitution” and pledging that the party would challenge its legality in the Supreme Court. “We will continue to resist all assaults of the Modi government on the principles, provisions, and practices contained in the Constitution of India,” he said.
Other members of the INDIA bloc echoed the sentiment. Leaders from AAP, DMK, RJD, and Shiv Sena (UBT) described the Bill as “anti-Muslim” and alleged it was aimed at grabbing waqf properties and transferring them to private corporations. Some called it an act of “legalized encroachment.”
Security on High Alert: Jamia and Beyond
The socio-political temperature isn’t just rising in Parliament. Security forces, including paramilitary units, were deployed in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar, a known hub of student activism. Campuses like Jamia Millia Islamia saw heightened patrols and restrictions, anticipating student-led protests.
Delhi Police officials confirmed they are acting “proactively to prevent any breach of law and order,” but critics argue it signals a worrying clampdown on dissent.
The Broader Pattern: A Trend of Constitutional Showdowns
This isn’t the first time the Congress party has taken the Modi government to court. The Waqf Bill joins a growing list of contentious legislation being challenged:
- CAA, 2019 — Still under judicial review
- RTI Amendments, 2019 — Questioned for diluting transparency
- Conduct of Election Rules, 2024 — Allegedly eroding free and fair electoral processes
- Places of Worship Act, 1991 — Congress has intervened to protect its sanctity
Each legal battle signals a deepening rift over how India interprets its Constitution — as a living document of inclusivity or a framework open to “reform” by parliamentary majority.
Voices from the Ground: “What Happens to Our Land Now?”
Beyond Parliament, the Bill’s passage has stirred anxiety among waqf board members, religious scholars, and ordinary citizens.
“What happens to our land now?” asked a caretaker of a dargah in Lucknow. “Is this reform, or is this erasure?” Others argue the system did need cleansing but fear the centralized control will marginalize local Muslim leadership.
In contrast, some urban poor Muslims — particularly in areas where waqf properties have long been misused or encroached upon — welcomed the promise of better governance. “If it means clean records and no land grabs by corrupt trustees, we are all for it,” said a resident of Hyderabad’s Old City.
The Road Ahead: Supreme Court or Social Conflagration?
The constitutional challenge by the Congress is expected to be filed within weeks. But the real test may not lie in courtrooms alone. As India inches closer to general elections, this issue could become a rallying cry — both for those asserting majoritarian governance and for those defending minority rights.
The question remains: Can judicial oversight temper political majoritarianism, or are we witnessing a new normal where Parliament legislates and the streets react?
FAQ
1. What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025?
It is a revision of the 1995 Waqf Act aimed at improving the management, registration, and transparency of waqf properties across India.
2. Why is the Bill controversial?
Opposition parties allege it targets Muslim-owned waqf properties and undermines the autonomy of waqf boards, calling it unconstitutional.
3. What does the government claim the Bill will achieve?
The Modi government says it will ensure transparency, curb corruption, and empower historically marginalized Muslims, especially Pasmanda and women.
4. How was the Bill passed?
It was passed in both houses of Parliament — Lok Sabha (288-232) and Rajya Sabha (128-95) — after a prolonged debate.
5. What changes does the Bill introduce?
Key changes include better record-keeping, increased digitization, centralized oversight, and improved administrative control of waqf boards.
6. What is the Congress party planning to do?
Congress has announced it will challenge the Bill’s constitutionality in the Supreme Court, citing violations of minority rights and federalism.
7. Has the government faced similar challenges before?
Yes. Other bills like CAA and amendments to the RTI Act have also been contested in the courts, many led by the Congress.
8. What is the public reaction so far?
Reactions are mixed: protests and fears among some Muslim communities, support from others who believe the reforms are necessary to end mismanagement.
