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Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, which seeks to improve the functioning of Waqf properties, address complexities, ensure transparency and introduce technology-driven management
Arvind Sawant (left) and Shrikant Shinde. (File)
The discussion over the Waqf Bill amendment in the Lok Sabha ignited another fierce war of words between Shinde Sena and Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) on Wednesday.
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Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha, which seeks to improve the functioning of Waqf properties, address complexities, ensure transparency and introduce technology-driven management.
Tabling the Bill, which was examined and redrafted by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), Rijiju said the legislation has nothing to do with religion, but deals only with properties.
“The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution. The changes made in the Waqf law by the UPA government gave it overriding effect over other statutes, hence the new amendments were required,” Rijiju said amid noisy opposition protest, adding, “You (opposition) tried to mislead the people on issues which are not part of the Waqf Bill.” Rijiju also claimed the consultation process of the JPC was the largest ever exercise carried out by a parliamentary panel in India’s democratic history.
#WATCH | Mumbai: On the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde says, “Shiv Sena’s stand on the Waqf Board has always been clear… We will never compromise with our ideology for power or selfishness… Our stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill is… pic.twitter.com/B7tGnzcEpP— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2025
SENA UBT VS SHINDE SENA
Sena UBT’s Arvind Sawant said in the LS, “This can happen with Christians, Jains and Sikhs too. The manner in which they have brought the bill it shows that “apke mann mein kuch aur hi hai”. We need harmony not hatred.”
MP Shrikant Shinde, the son of Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde, however, hit back at UBT. “UBT has started getting allergic to Hindus today. If Bala Saheb Thackeray were alive today, he would have been hurt by UBT’s attitude…Waqf lands have been increasing all these years. The bill is a ray of hope for poor Muslims.”
Eknath Shinde told ANI: “Shiv Sena’s stand on the Waqf Board has always been clear… We will never compromise on our views for power or selfishness… Our stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill is also clear… The Waqf Amendment Bill is for the welfare of the common people of the Muslim society, for their progress.”
Eknath Shinde had in 2022 engineered a split in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena, claiming that the party has forgotten Hindutva and the values upheld by Bal Thackeray. The two groups have since become bitter rivals, not leaving an opportunity to pull the other down.
THE CHANGES
As of 2004, a total of 4.9 lakh properties were held by the Waqf and their income was just Rs 163 crore, Rijiju said. After the 2013 amendment, the minister said, the income has gone up by just Rs 3 crore to Rs 166 crore. “We can’t accept such meagre income from such a huge bank of properties. The income should have been at least Rs 12,000 crore. Waqf property has to be used for poor Muslims, and the Waqf Bill is needed to achieve this purpose,” he said.
The minister also said the Waqf Bill will be renamed as Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Bill. Rijiju also introduced another Bill — The Mussalman Waqf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 — for consideration and passage in the House. According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution. As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions’ mandatory contribution to Waqf Boards reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors. A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill also proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules. Also, women must receive their inheritance before Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans. The Bill also proposes that an officer above the rank of collector will investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
In case of disputes, the senior government official will have the final say on whether a property belongs to Waqf or the government. This replaces the existing system where such decisions are made by Waqf tribunals.
The Bill also proposes that non-Muslim members will be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
Intervening in opposition’s objections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Bill was tabled after a long process of consultations carried out by the JPC.
With PTI Inputs
