128 Ayes, 95 Noes, 0 Abstentions: Rajya Sabha’s 12-hour showdown ends with the passage of WAQF (Amendment) Bill
The debate on the bill was damaged by frequent exchanges between the Treasury and the opposition bench. In a house with a total intensity of 236, the members present were 223 during the voting period. The bill passed at 2:33 a.m. after all amendments to the movement of opposition members were denied.
Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in an introductory speech in the debate on the bill that it aims to bring transparency and accountability in the WAQF board. “Some people say the bill is intended to harm Muslims, unconstitutional. I want to dismiss these allegations…we don’t want to hurt anyone’s emotions.” The minister stressed that there was no attempt to interfere with the religious practices of Muslims.
Rijiju called on opponents to not engage in politics and speech during the debate that the Narendra Modi government showed courage to implement the courage that Congress and other parties could not achieve in the past.
He reiterated his words that the property worth tens of millions of WAQF has not brought any significant benefits to Muslims. He added that if these characteristics were used, they would benefit poor Muslims and women.
“WAQF or any property must have ownership, registration or evidence. Some documents or evidence must be displayed. If you verbally say that your ancestors have it, you will have to display some documents. Users WAQF cannot be deleted by users. We have discarded a lot of measures because it will not be abused. Rijiju insists that your case cannot go to the superior court. “We did not close any doors.” “The government stressed that the bill ensures that any protected monuments cannot be declared as WAQF property, and that land belonging to the tribe and those belonging to Schedule V and VI cannot be obtained by the WAQF Board.
Rijiju said the opposition’s request to send the bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee was accepted, a group that was more representative than the 31 members, rather than the 13-member committee established by the WAKF Act proposed in 2013. With Jagadambika Pal-Pal-Pal-Pal-LED in 2013, it held 36 actors and spent more than 200 conferences among its members in 2013.
After a 12-hour debate, Rijiju said the last major draft of the bill voted was very different from the draft submitted and then sent to the Joint Commission. He stressed that this shows that the government is listening to all parties.
He lamented that despite his clarification at the beginning of the debate, many members still stated facts not found in the bill. He recalled that when the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed, many said Muslims would lose their citizenship, but none of the cases were completed.
Among the opposition debate leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that the bill appeared to be brought only to Muslims and was excluded. “The bill passed Lok Sabha with a majority of 288-232, which shows that there are several gaps in it. It may be the right one is not the right one … you are trying to seize the rights of Muslims,” he said.
He dismissed the government’s claim that the new law would empower Pasmada Muslims and women and cited the gap in the funds allocated to the welfare and expenditure of ethnic minorities. He said the government has also stopped scholarships for students from ethnic minority communities.
Kharge and other opposition members also objected to the provision that gave regional collectors the provision to declare property as WAQF.
Several opposition leaders claimed that the NDA government has taken many measures against Muslims and the bill will not change their perception of distribution.
Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said: “After what you do, people don’t trust you. You can win elections, but you won’t keep your promises… don’t abuse your majority.”
