In a heated Lok Sabha session on Wednesday, Congress MP KC Venugopal strongly criticized the BJP-led government for allegedly rushing through the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, without providing adequate time for parliamentary scrutiny and amendments.
Venugopal pointed out that the bill was introduced late in the afternoon the previous day, leaving members with little time to review its provisions and suggest necessary changes. He accused the government of “bulldozing legislation”, preventing meaningful debate and amendments.
“For a bill like the Waqf Amendment Bill, at least members should have the opportunity to propose amendments. The bill was brought to our attention only yesterday afternoon, leaving us no time to make amendments. You are bulldozing the legislation,” Venugopal said in the House.
Despite the opposition’s objections, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for passing. Speaker Om Birla defended the legislative process, stating that both government and opposition members had been given equal consideration for their amendments.
However, RSP MP NK Premachandran also raised concerns over the procedural aspects of the bill, prompting Home Minister Amit Shah to clarify that the Union Cabinet had already approved the amendments, which were based on the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
Meanwhile, Kiren Rijiju defended the bill, calling it a “historic and necessary reform” in the interest of the country.
“The Waqf Amendment Bill is in the interest of the country. Not just crores of Muslims but the whole nation will support it. Those opposing it are doing so for political reasons,” Rijiju said.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, originally introduced in August last year, aims to streamline the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It seeks to enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improve the registration process, and integrate technology for better governance.
With the opposition uniting against the bill, the debate is set to continue as the government pushes forward with its legislative agenda.
