The Waqf Amendment Bill has been at the center of heated discussions since it was first introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2024. After detailed discussions and being sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), the bill passed in the Lok Sabha late last night after a long debate, with voting concluding around midnight. The bill is now set to be presented in the Rajya Sabha, where it is expected to face strong opposition. Opposition parties, particularly Muslim organizations and leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi, have raised serious concerns, claiming the bill is unconstitutional and discriminatory against Muslims. They argue that the bill will marginalize Muslims and make them second-class citizens. Owaisi, invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s act of tearing up unjust laws during the freedom struggle, expressed his strong opposition to the bill, calling it divisive. However, the government has defended the bill, asserting that its purpose is to bring transparency and address issues within the Waqf system, ensuring it benefits the Muslim community. The BJP maintains that the bill is in the public interest and aims to reform the Waqf properties management system, which includes dealing with illegal encroachments. As the bill moves to the Rajya Sabha, intense debates are expected to continue.
