The Waqf Amendment Bill sailed through the Lok Sabha early on Thursday after a marathon 12-hour debate that saw the government and the Opposition go toe-to-toe on the contentious bill well-past midnight. The debate was intense but the numerical strength of the government had the last word. Around 2 am, the bill was passed by 288-232 votes.
The proposed legislation — which will be tabled in Rajya Sabha later today — aims to amend the 1995 law governing Waqf properties.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asserted that for vote bank politics, fear is being spread that Waqf bill is interference in religious matters of Muslims and properties donated by them.
Making an intervention in Lok Sabha during the debate on the Waqf amendment bill, he also said that non-Muslims in Waqf council and boards are meant purely for ensuring administration of properties in accordance with stated aims.
He underlined that Waqf is a type of charitable institution where a person donates his property for social, religious or public welfare purposes, without the right to take it back.