STATE TIMES NEWS
288 votes in favour, 232 against
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 on Thursday by a vote of 288 to 232 after hours of heated arguments during the Parliament’s Budget Session.
The bill, introduced by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, aims to improve the administration of Waqf properties, through technology-driven management by addressing existing complexities and ensuring transparency in the functioning of Waqf bodies.
The tabling of the Waqf Amendment Bill sparked an intense showdown between the NDA and the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as it was presented for nearly an eight-hour discussion that got extended to nearly 12 hours.
Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal, raised objections to the bill, accusing the government of bulldozing the legislation without adequate time for amendments. Venugopal argued that the bill lacked proper consultation and should be reconsidered to allow members to propose changes.
On the other hand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bill and attacked the Opposition’s stance. He dismissed the opposition’s claims of bypassing the legislative process and stated that the bill was the result of extensive consultations through a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which included inputs from 284 delegations and Waqf boards from 25 states and union territories.
Speaker Om Birla, meanwhile, assured that the government was open to considering amendments from both sides, which helped maintain order during the volatile debate. The opposition, however, continued to resist and accused the Centre of attempting to “dilute, defame, divide & disenfranchise” the minority community.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 includes several key changes that aim to streamline the management of Waqf properties and improve their oversight.
One of the major changes is the renaming of the bill to the Unified Waqf Management Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill. According to Union Minister Rijiju, this new name symbolises a sense of hope and empowerment, reflecting the government’s commitment to reforming the Waqf system.