Key Points
Parliamentary bill passes with 128 votes to transform Waqf accountability
Legislation aims to protect rights of Muslim women and marginalized groups
Modi emphasizes transparency and social justice in new framework
In the early hours of Friday, the Rajya Sabha approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, with a majority of 128 votes against 95, following a heated debate. The Bill had been passed in the Lok Sabha just a day earlier, after nearly 12 hours of intense discussions.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, "The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency, and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity."
Appreciating the lawmakers, he added, "Gratitude to all Members of Parliament who participated in the Parliamentary and Committee discussions, voiced their perspectives, and contributed to strengthening these legislations. A special thanks also to the countless people who sent their valuable inputs to the Parliamentary committee. Yet again, the importance of extensive debate and dialogue has been reaffirmed."
PM Modi emphasised that the reforms would bring long-overdue transparency to the Waqf system, which, he said, had lacked accountability for decades.
"For decades, the Waqf system was synonymous with lack of transparency and accountability. This especially harmed the interests of Muslim women, poor Muslims, and Pasmanda Muslims. The legislation passed by Parliament will boost transparency and also safeguard people's rights," he stated.
"We will now enter an era where the framework will be more modern and sensitive to social justice. On a larger note, we remain committed to prioritising the dignity of every citizen. This is also how we build a stronger, more inclusive, and more compassionate India," he added.
The Rajya Sabha debate, which began on Thursday, culminated in the Bill's passage early Friday.
The legislation will now be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her assent before becoming law.
Comments:
This is a significant step forward for transparency and accountability. The PM is right - reforms were long overdue in the Waqf system. Hope this brings real change on the ground. 🙏
As a Muslim woman, I cautiously welcome this development. The proof will be in implementation - we need to see if this actually protects vulnerable groups as promised.
The heated debate shows how important this issue is. Glad it passed though! More transparency is always good for any system. Kudos to all who worked on this bill.
While I support the intent, I wish there had been more consultation with Muslim community leaders before finalizing the bill. Some provisions seem rushed. Hope the implementation addresses these concerns.
12 hours of debate shows our democracy at work! 👏 This is how important legislation should be handled - with thorough discussion from all sides. Now let's make sure the benefits reach those who need them most.
The mention of Pasmanda Muslims is particularly important. They've been neglected for too long. If this bill helps uplift them, it will be a real achievement.
