“Everyone will have to accept the law..”: Amit Shah during Waqf Bill debate
The Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 has been passed in the Lok Sabha, with 288 MPs voting in favour and 232 against. Participating in the debate on the bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to an opposition member’s statement that the "minority community will not accept this law."
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He questioned whether this was a threat and asserted that the law, once passed by Parliament, must be accepted by all. He said, “…One member even said that the ‘minority community will not accept this law.’ What does that mean? Is this a threat? This is a law passed by Parliament, and everyone must accept it… How can anyone say, ‘We will not accept this law’? This is a law of the Government of Bharat, and it applies to everyone. It is binding on all and must be accepted.”
"No minority person will accept this law"
Before the debate, Congress MLA and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) executive member Arif Masood had publicly rejected the bill, calling it a “black law.” Arif Masood said, "This black law is going to be passed today. The way in which Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar have supported it, it will definitely be passed, but no minority person will accept this black law. In this Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Muslims or the waqf board is not getting any support."
Amit Shah on Waqf Amendment Bill
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on April 2, Amit Shah dismissed opposition concerns that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was aimed at interfering with the religious conduct of Muslims. He stated that the bill's provisions were focused on the better management of Waqf properties.
He further clarified that the bill would not have retrospective effect and accused the opposition of spreading fear among the Muslim community. “I feel that there are several misconceptions among several members, either genuinely or politically. Also, through this House, attempts are being made to spread those misconceptions across the country,” he said.
