India, April 3 -- Lok Sabha early on Thursday passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after an 11-hour-long debate.

According to news agency ANI, 288 members voted for the bill while 232 voted against it.

The bill will now go to the Rajya Sabha, where another long debate is expected. According to the news agency PTI, eight hours have been allocated for the same.

Earlier in the day, union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju also moved the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha, along with the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025. The latter was earlier presented in the Lok Sabha in August last year, and a Joint Parliamentary Committee, headed by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, examined it.

The bill seeks to ame...