Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the early hours of April 4 after a 14-hour fiery debate in the Rajya Sabha. The bill was cleared with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, amid accusations by the Opposition that it aims to marginalize Muslims. The most contentious clause the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the Waqf Boards and Central Waqf Council faced backlash, with Congress and regional parties calling it unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the bill, insisting the Waqf Boards are statutory, not religious, and must reflect secular values. Opposition MPs, many dressed in black, slammed the bill as a tool for communal polarization, questioning why similar changes aren't applied to other religious boards.

Despite the uproar, the government emphasized transparency and reform in Waqf property administration. The bill's passage deepens the divide, sparking national debate on religious autonomy vs. administrative oversight.