Overview

• The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 proposes changes to waqf property management, including abolishing the 'waqf-by-user' concept and increasing state officials' powers.
• Congress claims the bill undermines constitutional protections, weakens minority institutions, and threatens India's social harmony.
• The Parliamentary Committee approved the bill's amendments by majority vote, rejecting opposition-proposed changes and prompting dissent from Congress.
• The opposition alleges rushed parliamentary procedures, citing inadequate clause-by-clause discussion during the committee's review process.
• The government defends the bill as a modernization effort aimed at improving waqf administration and addressing ambiguities in existing laws.