Waqf Amendment Bill Marks a New Dawn for India, Says BJP MP Shashank Mani

  • April 4, 2025, 11:34 a.m.

The passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, in Parliament has been celebrated as a transformative moment for India by BJP MP Shashank Mani, who lauded the legislation as a step toward inclusive development and empowerment. Speaking in Delhi today, Mani described the bill’s approval as an “auspicious moment for our republic,” crediting the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju for its success.

“This will benefit the minorities, the country, and women,” Mani told reporters, emphasizing the bill’s far-reaching positive impact. “The opposition also put forward its point strongly, but this legislation proves that the BJP is committed to progress for all.” The bill, passed in the Rajya Sabha with 128 votes in favor and 95 against on April 4, following its approval in the Lok Sabha with 288 votes to 232, introduces reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in managing Waqf properties. It is now poised to become law with Presidential assent.

Mani highlighted the bill’s inclusive approach, noting provisions like the inclusion of non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards and safeguards for women’s inheritance rights as evidence of the BJP’s commitment to equality and justice. “This is about taking everyone along—minorities, women, and every citizen have a stake in this development journey,” he said.

Responding to criticism from CPI(M) MP AA Rahim, who called the bill’s passage a “black day” for secular India and accused it of violating the spirit of secularism, Mani offered a sharp rebuttal. “By distorting the history of India, they cornered minorities and made them into a vote bank,” he said, taking aim at the CPI(M), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Congress. “The Prime Minister is creating a structure for development by taking everyone along and with everyone’s efforts, in which every minority has a very important role. I want to tell CPI(M), SP, and Congress that the time is gone when they only saw minorities as a tool for votes.”

Mani’s remarks align with the BJP’s broader narrative that the Waqf Amendment Bill—renamed the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Act—ushers in a new era of accountability and opportunity. The legislation ensures judicial oversight, digitizes property records, and curbs misuse, moves the party claims will uplift marginalized Muslims while fostering national unity.

The BJP MP thanked the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Rijiju for their relentless efforts in pushing the bill through a contentious parliamentary debate. “This is a testament to their dedication to a stronger, more equitable India,” he said. In Delhi, where the BJP has been in power since February 2025, the government’s focus on reforms like the Yamuna cleanup and women’s welfare schemes complements this national achievement, reinforcing its governance credentials.

As the Opposition continues to cry foul, alleging the bill undermines minority rights, Mani’s confident assertion—that time will reveal its true value—reflects the BJP’s optimism. For now, the party stands firm, heralding the Waqf Amendment Bill as a milestone in its mission to build a progressive, inclusive republic.

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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