Lok Sabha braces for heated debate as govt to table contentious Waqf Bill today

The government will table the bill for discussion and passage in the Lok Sabha.

All political parties irrespective of ruling and opposition camps have issued a whip to be present in the House.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee comprising representatives from all major political parties agreed on an eight-hour debate.

The committee, which is chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, has agreed that the duration of the debate can be extended as per the sense of the House.

"The government is committed to a fair, open debate where every MP, across party lines, gets a voice. But if some choose to evade discussion, what message does that send? The nation is watching," said Rijiju.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is short of majority in the Lok Sabha, is backed by its crucial allies, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

The government is in all probability likely to get its bill sail through the lower house of Parliament with the support of its allies.

On the other hand, the Opposition comprising contradictory allies is aiming to put up a united show having discussed the matter in a meeting on Tuesday.

Waqf Amendment Bill 2024

On August 8, 2024, two bills, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, were introduced in the Lok Sabha with an aim to streamline the Waqf Board's work and ensure the efficient management of Waqf properties.

The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.

The Amendment 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 by introducing changes such as renaming the Act, updating the definitions of waqf, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records.

The primary objective of the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 is to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, a colonial-era legislation that has become outdated and inadequate for managing waqf properties in modern India.

The repeal aims to ensure uniformity, transparency, and accountability in the administration and management of waqf properties under the Waqf Act, 1995, thus eliminating inconsistencies and ambiguities caused by the continued existence of this redundant law.