New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to withdraw the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 and said that this is against the Constitution.
“What you are doing is not good. This will lead to disputes in the country. You are sowing seeds for disputes… I appeal to the Home Minister to withdraw this. Don’t make this a prestige issue. What is the harm in rectifying the errors?… Amendments were made to the Constitution of the country. So, it is correct to withdraw it. This is not good for Muslims. This is against Constitution,” Kharge said in Rajya Sabha.
He further said, “They accepted the 1995 Act with a consensus. Today, the same people say that it was not good, and they are forming a new law for the poor and minorities… Still, you want to say that you have brought a new Bill. This has nothing new except the clauses to destroy people.”
Kharge said that regarding this Bill, an atmosphere has formed in the country that this has been brought in to hassle the minorities.
“Had there been some major changes to the 1995 Act, we would have accepted it. But they put in what was already there… I have a comparative statement… The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha with 288 Ayes and 232 Noes. Did everyone accept it? This means that there are drawbacks (in the Bill). You should see this… If you go by ‘jiski laathi uski bhains’, this will not be good for anyone,” Kharge said.
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after a marathon and heated debate. During this debate, members of the INDIA bloc fiercely opposed the legislation, while the BJP and its allies strongly supported it, saying it would bring transparency and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards.
The House sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation. Speaker Om Birla later announced the division’s result. “Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal,” he said.
The government introduced the revised bill after incorporating the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which examined the legislation introduced in August last year. The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995 and improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India.
It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records. (ANI)
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