National: The Lok Sabha has passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, following a marathon 12-hour debate. The ruling NDA defended the legislation as beneficial for minorities, while the opposition vehemently opposed it, labeling it “anti-Muslim”.
The Bill was passed with 288 votes in favour and 232 against, after all amendments proposed by opposition members were rejected through voice votes.
Union Minorities Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to the debate, stating that India is the safest place in the world for minorities, attributing this to the secularism of the majority community.
Rijiju emphasized that even small minority groups, such as the Parsis, live safely in India, and all minorities reside with pride. He countered opposition claims that minorities are not safe in India, calling the statement “completely false.” Rijiju, himself a minority, asserted that he and his community live in India without fear and with pride.