The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju calling it an unparalleled legislative discussion in India's history. Defending the government’s approach, Rijiju highlighted the extensive deliberations that took place before the bill was brought to Parliament.

"I want to say that the discussion that has taken place on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Joint Committee of both the Houses has never been done in the parliamentary history of India till date. I thank and congratulate all the members of the Joint Committee… Till date, a total of 284 delegations from the state holders of different communities have presented their views and suggestions before the committee. Waqf boards of 25 state governments and union territories have also presented their submissions," Rijiju stated.

#WATCH | After introducing the Waqf Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says "I want to say that the discussion that has taken place on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Joint Committee of both the Houses has never been done in the parliamentary… pic.twitter.com/GgmvdlPNR5

— ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2025

The BJP-led government has positioned the bill as a crucial step toward streamlining waqf property management and preventing encroachments. However, opposition parties remain skeptical, fearing that the amendments could lead to government overreach and weaken waqf boards.