lower house of parliament passed a contentious bill early Thursday amending laws which govern land donated by Muslims.
Falling under the waqf category, these are land and properties donated by Muslims for religious, educational, or charitable purposes. Once designated as waqf, they cannot be sold or transferred.
Tabled by , the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 permits non-Muslims on boards that govern these properties and enables the government to determine ownership of the land in case of any dispute.
In the lower house, 288 members voted for the bill after a 12-hour debate, while 232 were against.
The bill is being discussed in the upper house of the parliament on Thursday, and once cleared will be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for her approval to become law.
Government, opposition at loggerheads
The government claims the changes will combat corruption and mismanagement while promoting inclusivity.
Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who introduced the bill, defended the legislation, calling it “legal and constitutional” and asking for it to be viewed as “pro-Muslim reform.”
clarified that non-Muslim members would oversee administration, not religious affairs.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress-led opposition called the bill unconstitutional and discriminatory, warning it could be used to strip Muslims of their assets.
Congress leader and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi in a post on X called the bill “a weapon aimed at marginalizing Muslims and usurping their personal laws and property rights.”
Critics and many Muslim groups say the proposal is discriminatory, politically motivated and an attempt by Modi’s Hindu nationalist ruling party to weaken minority rights.
What are waqfs?
Waqfs are Islamic charitable foundations where donors permanently dedicate property — often real estate — for religious or charitable purposes.
In India, waqf holdings include 872,000 properties spanning 405,000 hectares (1 million acres), with an estimated value of $14.22 billion (€12.95 billion).
Government and Muslim organizations estimate that more than 25 waqf boards are among India’s largest landowners.
Muslim groups feel the legislation could weaken control over waqf land, particularly as have recently , arguing they were built over centuries-old Hindu temples.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
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