New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha has passed the Waqf Amendment Bill after over 12 hours of heated discussion. The voting, held at around 1:10 AM, saw 128 Members of Parliament supporting the bill and 95 opposing it.
Earlier in the day, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had expressed its opposition to the bill but later allowed its MPs to vote according to their conscience. The Lok Sabha had approved the bill the previous day. With both Houses now having passed it, the bill awaits the President’s assent to become law.
Several MPs from Kerala — including John Brittas, A.A. Rahim, V. Sivadasan, Harris Beeran, Abdul Wahab, P. Santosh Kumar, and P.P. Suneer — moved amendments to specific provisions in the bill, all of which were rejected by a voice vote. A key amendment by Tiruchi Siva, which sought to bar non-Muslims from being appointed to Waqf Boards, was also defeated in a formal vote.
