New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): Following the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025, several political leaders expressed their views and welcomed the move. Union Minister BL Verma emphasised the importance of the bill by ensuring that their rights are protected.

While speaking with ANI, Union Minister BL Verma said, 'This bill was much needed so that the common and poor Muslims could participate in it and their rights could be protected.'

JDU MP Sanjay Jha criticised the previous mismanagement of the Waqf board, stating that the amendment would benefit the Muslims and OBCs, and Pasmanda communities will also get representation in Waqf Board.

Jha told ANI, 'The property in the Waqf board was not being utilised in the right way. It was being mismanaged; there was corruption. The amendment will benefit the Muslims, people from OBC and Pasmanda communities will also get representation in the Waqf Board.'

BJP MP Medha Kulkarni said, 'Today is a day of joy... I can say that we got the result of all the effort we put into the JPC. I am not even shocked at Shiv Sena's (UBT) stand (for Waqf Amendment Bill). They have forgotten everything and there is no gain in reminding them anything now.'

Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma said that the people were happy following the passage of bill in the Lok Sabha.

Speaking with ANI, Sharma said, 'The opposition itself did not trust the facts presented by it, and the public also did not trust them. People were very happy after the bill was passed in Lok Sabha, and we were confident that it would be passed in Rajya Sabha as well. We are very happy that the historic bill has been passed.'

The Parliament passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the early hours of Friday after a marathon and heated debate.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said, 'Ayes 128 and Noes 95, Absent zero. The Bill is passed.'

The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024' has also been passed in the Parliament. The House sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition parties of trying to mislead people on the Waqf Amendment Bill and said it will benefit crores of people from the Muslim community.

Replying to the over 12-hour-long debate on the bill in Rajya Sabha, Rijiju said several suggestions made by the Joint Parliamentary Committee had been incorporated in the revised bill.

Rijiju said that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, will be renamed as the UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development) Bill.

Lok Sabha, which took up discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday, passed it past midnight after a marathon debate.

The government introduced the revised bill after incorporating the recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which examined the legislation introduced in August last year. The bill seeks to amend the Act of 1995 and improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India.

The Bill aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records. (ANI)