More Stories

Informist, Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Trinamool Congress Tuesday asked their members to be present in Parliament on Apr. 1, multiple sources said, adding that the development has sparked a buzz among lawmakers from both the parties whether the government was considering to bring the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995 for passing in the Lok Sabha on Apr. 1. "We have received a mail asking us to be present in Delhi on Apr. 1," said a source in the BJP. 

 

The bill was referred to the joint parliamentary committee, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jagdambika Pal in August, after its introduction in the Lok Sabha. The Union Cabinet on Feb. 19 had approved the recommendations of the joint parliamentary committee, paving the way for the government to bring the revised bill in Parliament.

 

The Ministry of Minority Affairs will also be organising a briefing session on the bill for members in Parliament house on Wednesday. Since there is no crucial business left after the passing of Finance Bill on Tuesday for this session, the buzz is high over Waqf amendment bill. The session is scheduled to conclude on Apr. 4.

 

However, the government may have to face the heat from its allies as well if it takes up the bill. Sources said the Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas) and Hindustan Awam Morcha--all the three parties from Bihar--are not in favour of the Waqf bill. The assembly elections are scheduled in Bihar later this year and parties are concerned about the possible repercussions of the contentious bill in the state, where Muslim voters hold a significant number. The JD(U), Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas) and Hindustan Awam Morcha have already expressed their concerns on the bill, sources said.

 

Waqf is a charitable or religious donation made by Muslims for the benefit of the community. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to amend the law that governs these properties, which include mosques and madrassas. The bill mandates non-Muslim members in state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council. It further seeks to omit Section 40 of the Act, which empowered waqf boards to decide if a property was waqf property. It also seeks to streamline the registration of waqfs through a central portal and database.

 

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance has opposed the Bill and alleged that it was framed without consulting the stakeholders. Opposition leaders have called it anti-Muslim, against cooperative federalism, and politically motivated. The Opposition also alleged that the bill violates the constitutional right to freedom of religion. End

 

Reported by Kuldeep Singh

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.