Amit Shah’s figures in Parliament regarding Waqf land, Waqf boards had 18 lakh acres of land in 100 years, in the last 12 years it increased by 21 lakh acres.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 amidst strict opposition from members of various opposition parties, in which the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on August 8, 2024 after being introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8 last year. In the meeting, the Union Cabinet gave its approval to 14 amendments proposed by the Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC). Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the opposition in the Lok Sabha of threatening not to accept the proposed law on Waqf, but it would be a law passed by Parliament and will have to accept it all. He said that the fear is being spread for vote bank politics that the Waqf Bill is interfering in the religious matters of Muslims and the assets donated by them. Intervening in the discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the House, Shah clarified that it would not be implemented with pre -influence after taking the form of its law, while (by the opposition) Muslim brothers are being intimidated on this pretext. Shah claimed that within four years of taking the form of the Bill the law, Muslim brothers would know that these laws are in their benefit. Taking a dig at the DMK members, he said that by opposing the bill, he is angry with all the churches in their respective constituencies. The data of increase in Waqf land was revealed by Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday evening during a debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024.

 

The history of Waqf property in India started from two villages at the end of the 12th century and now it has reached 39 lakh acres. It is worth noting that in the last 12 years, the total land under the Waqf Board in India has increased more than double. The data of increase in Waqf land was revealed by Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday evening during a debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024. The bill was introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday.

Shah said in the Lok Sabha, “From 1913 to 2013, the Waqf Board had a total of 18 lakh acres of land. Between 2013 and 2025, after amending the Waqf Act by the Congress -led UPA government, 21 lakh acres more added to it.” Shah said, “21 lakh acres out of a total of 39 lakh acres were added after 2013. And now they are saying that it has not been misused.” He mentioned the year when the 1995 Waqf Act was amended for better management of Waqf properties. According to earlier government data, the Waqf Board in India controls 8.72 lakh properties in an area of ​​9.4 lakh acres. Waqf refers to assets that have been donated for religious or charitable objectives under Islamic law. After being donated by Waqf (donor), the ownership of the property is transferred and secured to Allah. Property income is for the use of community and the sale of such assets is prohibited. According to the official website of India’s Waqf Asset Management System, there are 30 Waqf boards across India.

 

According to a government note issued in 2024, the Waqf Act and its 2013 amendment have been criticized, causing issues such as encroachment, mismanagement, ownership disputes and registration and delay in survey. Shah talked about the lack of transparency in the management of Waqf properties and their misuse by some people. He questioned, “The Waqf Board’s lease properties were 20,000, but in 2025, those properties that could be wrong according to the records, these assets became zero.Where did these assets go? Whose permission was sold. ”According to government data, the armed forces and Indian Railways as well as the Waqf Board are one of the top three owners of the land in India. A research conducted by India Today’s Data Intelligence Unit (DIU) shows that it is more than 30 sovereign countries than the Waqf Board in India.