India, April 3 -- The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has been drafted with the intention to strengthen the Waqf Boards and ensure that the rights of women, children and the deprived sections are protected, Union minister Kiren Rijiju said while introducing the Bill in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha late on Wednesday, with 288 members voting in favour of it and 232 voting against.

Pointing out that the new bill, to be known as UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development), the minister said, "The bill is a new dawn. It was brought with a good intention. It will now be called Umeed (meaning 'hope'), and no one should have a problem with that."

Rijiju slammed the former Congress-led United Pr...