Waqf Bill Passed In Lok Sabha After 12-Hour Intense Debate, To Face Rajya Sabha Test Today

<p>The Lok Sabha passed the contentious Waqf Bill early on Thursday following a 12-hour debate with an intense discussion where the ruling NDA defended the legislation as beneficial for minorities. At the same time, the opposition termed the Bill "anti-Muslim" which will be now put to test in Rajya Sabha later in the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed after all amendments moved by the opposition legislators were rejected by voice votes. The Bill was passed after a division of votes with 288 in favour and 232 against.&nbsp;</p> <p>Replying to the debate in the House, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed there is no place safer than India for minorities, adding they are safe because the majority is entirely secular.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Some members have said that minorities are not safe in India. This statement is completely false. There is no place safer than India for minorities. I am also a minority and we all are living here without any fear and with pride," he said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Rijiju further said that through this Bill, the NDA-led Centre is going to unify all minorities in the country. He also underscored the "wholehearted" support of the Christian community for the Bill. He asserted that the legislation is aimed at expediting a large number of disputes pending with the Waqf tribunals.&nbsp;</p> <h2>Vote Bank Being Created Over Bill: Shah&nbsp;</h2> <p>Intervening in the debate earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that a vote bank was being created by intimiating minorities and confusion being spread in the country over the bill.&nbsp;</p> <p>"The Narendra Modi government runs on a very clear principle that we will not bring any law for vote bank because the law is for justice and welfare of people," he said.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Everyone has the right to follow their religion, but conversion cannot be done for greed, temptation and fear," he stressed adding that it has become a fashion to create fear among the people of the minority community.</p> <p>On non-Muslims being included int he Waqf council and boards, Shah said the move is meant purely to ensure the administration of properties in accordance with stated aims. Earlier there was no provision to include any non-Muslims among those who run religious institutions and the NDA government is not going to do it either, he said.</p> <h2>Oppn Unites, Owaisi Tears Bill Copy&nbsp;</h2> <p>The opposition stood united opposing the Bill with Lok Sabha Deputy Leader and Congress MP GAurav Gogoi saying the INDIA bloc will oppose the proposed changes to the legislation. Claiming that the Bill was an attacl on the basic structure of Constitution, he accused the government of misleading Parliament.&nbsp;</p> <p>Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the Bill was a ploy for polarisation following its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He further asserted that the Bill will prove to be a "Waterloo" for the saffron party as some of its allies might be claiming to support the legislation but inside they are not happy about it.&nbsp;</p> <p>Taking part in the debate, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi staged a symbolic protest by tearing a copy of the Bill.&nbsp;</p> <p>Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi termed the Bill a weapon, aimed at marginalising Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights.</p> <p>"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," he said.</p>

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