The North News
New Delhi, April 2
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused the Congress of misleading the public and spreading misinformation about the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Shah asserted that the proposed amendments were constitutional and would not interfere with religious affairs.
“Some people are trying to mislead minorities. Those who manage religious property will continue to do so without non-Muslim interference,” Shah stated, rejecting claims that the bill would disrupt religious harmony, the news outlet NDTV reported.
The Home Minister alleged that the Opposition was attempting to create fear among minorities for political gain. “The Congress, in 2013, amended the law to transfer 123 properties in Lutyens’ Delhi to Waqf. This was an act of appeasement politics. In Tamil Nadu, even a 400-year-old temple property was declared Waqf’s,” he said, according to the news outlet .
Clarifying the concept of Waqf, Shah noted, “Waqf is an Arabic term meaning donation of property in the name of Allah. It is a charitable endowment, but one cannot donate someone else’s property. The amendments will not create religious tensions.”
Shah further assured that non-Muslims would not be involved in the governance of Waqf boards or councils. “Waqf Parishad ensures oversight, prevents misuse of property, and tackles illegal land grabs,” he added.
According to the NDTV, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The bill aims to enhance transparency, improve Waqf property administration, and integrate technology-driven management. Rijiju highlighted that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) overseeing the bill had conducted the most extensive consultation in Indian parliamentary history, receiving over 9.7 million petitions and memoranda before finalizing its report.
