"Will go to court and fight against bill": Congress leader Imran Masood after Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 passed in the Lok Sabha

New Delhi [India], April 3 (ANI): After the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 was passed in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP and JPC member Imran Masood on Thursday called it a "black day," saying that they will go to the court and fight against this bill.
"This is a black day... This is an attack on our rights... The Muslim community and the Waqf both are going to suffer from this...This day will be lodged as a black day in history...We will go to the court and will fight against this bill," Masood told ANI.
Congress MP Kiran Kumar Chamala attacked the ruling party and said that they passed the bill of their own will and wish.
"They just want to pass this bill. This is their singular agenda...They have passed the bill in their own will and wish...The bulldoze governance is happening inside the parliament," Chamala said.
Meanwhile, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi left the Parliament after the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha.
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.
In his reply to the debate, Rijiju said slammed the opposition parties for terming Waqf Amendment Bill as "unconstitutional", Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the law relating to Waqf property has been in existence for decades and has not been struck down by courts and such words should not be used lightly.
The debate on Lok Sabha that lasted almost 12 hours.
Rijiju said that after the bill is passed, the poor in the Muslim community will thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The House sat beyond midnight to pass the bill.
"Crores of poor Muslims will thank PM Modi on the bill being passed," he said.
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)