Lok Sabha Passes Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 After Marathon Debate Amidst Fierce Opposition

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after more than 10 hours of intense debate that began on Wednesday afternoon, culminating in a late-night vote that stretched past midnight. The bill, which seeks to overhaul the management of Waqf properties in India, was approved with 288 votes in favour. A total of 520 votes were tallied in a House of 543 members, with 232 votes from the opposition cast against its passage. The opposition’s demand for a division vote, rejecting a simpler voice vote, underscored the fierce resistance to the legislation.

The debate commenced around 2 PM on Wednesday, April 2, with the speaker initially allocating eight hours for discussion. However, as tensions escalated and arguments deepened, the Lok Sabha Speaker extended the session and by the time the voting started it was already way past 1 am of Thursday morning.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah strongly defended the bill, called it their intent to streamline Waqf administration. His remarks drew cheers from NDA lawmakers but were met with skepticism and interruptions from the opposition benches. "When amendments to the Waqf were introduced in 2013, Lalu Prasad Yadav had said 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." Amit Shah said and further added that “opposition is politicising the issue by calling the bill anti muslim”.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the bill, sought to counter the opposition’s narrative by emphasising its reformative goals. “With this bill, there is no interference in the freedom of any religious body.... Forget about taking anyone’s rights, this bill will empower the minorities. In India even Parsis are minorities, they came and lauded the bill this m morning when we were on break. Opposition is claiming that minorities are not safe in India. But I say there is no better a county than India where the minorities are the safest”, Rijiju said. But despite his efforts to frame the bill as a progressive measure, the opposition remained unconvinced, accusing the government of overstepping into religious affairs.

The opposition, united in its resistance, labeled the bill an assault on minority rights and religious autonomy. Their insistence on a division vote highlighted their determination to formally register dissent. The INDIA bloc’s arguments centred on provisions like the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf boards and enhanced state oversight, which they deemed intrusive.

The debate grew increasingly contentious as lawmakers sparred over the bill’s implications, with the opposition alleging a lack of consultation and the government defending its majority-backed mandate. After hours of deliberation, the Lok Sabha moved to a division vote at the opposition’s behest, with the NDA securing the bill’s passage through its numerical strength.

What Opposition Leaders Said

Gaurav Gogoi (Congress MP):"This bill is a calculated move to erode the Constitution’s promise of equality. It seeks to defame and disenfranchise minorities, dividing our society for political gain. The government claims reform, but this is interference dressed as progress—today it’s the Waqf, tomorrow it will be another community’s rights."

Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party Chief): "The BJP is using this bill to hide its failures, from Kumbh mismanagement to border security. They obsess over Waqf land while ignoring land lost to China. This isn’t reform—it’s a conspiracy to snatch homes and shops from millions, all to appease their vote bank. They want to map the Waqf properties but can’t confirm how much land has been snatched away by China from India’s map”

Kalyan Banerjee (TMC): Among the many significant changes the Bill proposes, the omission of Section 40 from the original Act has become a major point of contention. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee said, “If the Section 40 is deleted, the Waqf Board will be a teethless doll... a doll only. If this section is deleted then there is no necessity to keep the Waqf Board itself. Do not keep it. Give the powers to the minister.”

Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM Chief):"This is an unconstitutional assault on Muslim rights, tearing apart our ability to manage our own religious affairs. The Hindus can donate their property to anyone, even to their neighbour but if Muslims want to donate their property for the work of God, they they can’t. The BJP wants to create divisiveness in this country in the name of temples and mosques. I condemn this ”

The approval of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha marks a significant victory for the government, though its journey is far from over. The bill now awaits deliberation in the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA’s lack of a clear majority could pose challenges. As the nation watches, the fierce opposition witnessed in the Lower House signals that the battle over the Waqf reforms is set to intensify in the coming days.​