"Historic day...Waqf (Amendment) Bill will benefit poor": BJP leader Jagdambika Pal

New Delhi [India], April 3 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader and the Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, attacked the Opposition for spreading "lie" over the Bill and said that it will benefit poor and Pasmanda (backward) Muslims.
"Today is a historic day. Now not only will the poor Muslims get the benefit, but people from OBC and Pasmanda communities will also get representation in the Waqf Board...The government has introduced a bill to make the Waqf more transparent and Muslims will benefit from it...The opposition is lying," Pal told ANI on Thursday.
Earlier today, the Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after a marathon and heated debate during which members of the INDIA bloc fiercely opposed the legislation while the BJP and its allies in strongly supported it, saying it will bring transparency and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards.
The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, has also been passed in the Lok Sabha.
The bill was passed after amendments made by the opposition members were negatived. The House sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation.
After a reply to the debate by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Speaker Om Birla announced that the House is taking up item no 12 in the listed business - The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 - for a decision of the House. He said the question is whether the bill should be taken up for consideration and then said the lobbies should be cleared.
He later announced the result of the division. "Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal," he said.
Parties in INDIA bloc had decided to oppose the bill and their members voted accordingly. They also pressed for division on some amendments. An amendment was negatived with 231 members voting in favour and 238 against it.
The revised bill was brought by the government after incorporating recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee which examined the legislation which was introduced in August last year.
The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995. The Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records. (ANI)