New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025, officially enacting the two bills passed by Parliament during the Budget Session. The notifications issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Saturday, April 5, confirmed the President’s approval.
The passage of the bills marks a significant legislative development, with the Rajya Sabha clearing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Friday by a vote of 128 in favour and 95 against, while the Lok Sabha passed it earlier with 288 votes for and 232 against, following a heated and extensive debate.
PM Modi Calls It a ‘Watershed Moment’
Reacting to the landmark legislation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X to describe the move as a “watershed moment” in India’s efforts toward transparency, inclusive growth, and socio-economic justice.
“The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on the margins, thus being denied both voice and opportunity,” Modi wrote.
The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a watershed moment in our collective quest for socio-economic justice, transparency and inclusive growth. This will particularly help those who have long remained on…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 4, 2025
‘Not Against Religion,’ Says Union Minister Rijiju
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who strongly defended the legislation, emphasizing that it “has nothing to do with religion” and is purely focused on property regulation and reform.
“The Bill is not against Muslims… We don’t want to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments,” Rijiju said, while clarifying that the Waqf Boards are regulatory bodies, not custodians of religious faith.
Rijiju added that the bill had been thoroughly examined and redrafted by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and was aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and technological integration in the management of Waqf properties.
The minister noted that the number of Waqf properties has grown from 4.9 lakh in 2004 to 8.72 lakh today, and that the board’s functioning needed urgent reforms to curb misuse and ensure fair distribution of benefits.
The post President Murmu Gives Assent to Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025: PM Hails ‘Watershed Moment’ appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
