Waqf Bill Set for Lok Sabha Debate as Protests and Opposition Intensify

The BJP government will table the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on April 2, with an eight-hour discussion planned, while critics call it unconstitutional and harmful to minority rights.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, renamed the 'Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development Act' (UMEED), aims to reform Waqf property management through digitization, audits, and broader representation.
The BJP has issued a three-line whip to its MPs, ensuring their attendance for the bill's tabling in the Lok Sabha on April 2, with an eight-hour discussion scheduled.
Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and AIMIM, and several Muslim organizations strongly oppose the bill, citing constitutional violations and risks to minority rights.
Protests against the bill escalated during recent Eid celebrations in Karnataka, where participants, including state leaders, wore black armbands to express dissent.
Support for the bill has come from the Catholic Bishops Conference of India and the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, which argue it addresses constitutional inconsistencies and governance issues.