Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra) [India], April 3 : Maharashtra AIMIM President Imtiaz Jaleel on Thursday strongly criticized the passage of the Waqf Amendment Bill, alleging that political leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar supported the BJP-led government "out of fear."
Speaking to the media, Jaleel vowed to continue the fight both on the streets and in the Supreme Court but expressed doubts about judicial impartiality, claiming that many retired judges secure high-profile posts under the Modi government.
"When the voting was completed, there was only a difference of around 50 votes. TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and JDU's Nitish Kumar have supported PM Modi out of fear, but how will they face the people when they go for elections after four months? Ajit Pawar is also supporting PM Modi. Now that the bill is passed, we will fight one fight on the road and another in the Supreme Court," he said.
"But we don't have much hope from the Supreme Court. If there are judges who want to be NHRC Chairman or want a Rajya Sabha seat after retirement, then there is going to be no justice. Under PM Modi's rule, there are a lot of judges who go and sit next to PM Modi as soon as they retire and get good posts," Imtiaz Jaleel said.
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after a marathon and heated debate on Wednesday. During this debate, members of the INDIA bloc fiercely opposed the legislation, while the BJP and its allies strongly supported it, saying it would bring transparency and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards.
The House sat beyond Wednesday midnight to pass the legislation. Speaker Om Birla later announced the division's result. "Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal," he said.
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.
It 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.