“Minorities in India Are Safe Because Majority Is Secular”: Rijiju on Waqf Amendment Bill

New Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday tabled the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, in the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing that the legislation was introduced after consultations with all stakeholders. Urging the Congress and its allies to support the Bill, Rijiju asserted that the amendments aim to protect the rights of women and ensure efficient management of Waqf properties.

Speaking in the Upper House, Rijiju revealed that India currently has 8.72 lakh Waqf properties. Referring to the 2006 Sachar Committee report, which estimated the earnings from 4.9 lakh Waqf properties at ₹12,000 crore, he underscored the significant financial implications of Waqf assets. He further announced that the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, will be renamed the UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development) Bill.

The minister said that the Bill would address longstanding issues left unfulfilled by previous governments and called for bipartisan support to pass the legislation.

Rijiju Defends India’s Record on Minority Safety
During a debate in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju reaffirmed that India remains the safest place for minorities, attributing their security to the secular nature of the country’s majority population. Citing examples of minority communities such as the Parsis, he stated that all minorities in India live with dignity and without fear.

“Some members have claimed that minorities are unsafe in India. This is completely false. There is no place safer than India for minorities. I am a minority myself, and we all live here with pride and security,” Rijiju asserted.

He further highlighted that persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, have consistently sought refuge in India. He cited the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan community as examples, along with religious minorities from Myanmar and Sri Lanka who have found safety in India.

“Minorities in India are safe because the majority is fully secular. This is not the case in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan,” he said, criticizing opposition leaders for questioning India’s treatment of its minority communities.

Bill Seeks to Unite All Minority Groups
Rijiju stated that the UMEED Bill aims to unify all minority communities in India and modernize Waqf property management. He also emphasized the strong support from the Christian community for the proposed legislation.

With the Bill now under debate in the Rajya Sabha, the government is pushing for its swift passage amid strong opposition from rival parties.