Deve Gowda, 91, sits through 12-hour marathon Parliament session to support Waqf Bill, wins praise

Deve Gowda strongly supported the bill in the upper house

At 91, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda made headlines as he stayed in Parliament for more than 12 hours during the debate on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

His dedication and firm backing of the bill didn’t go unnoticed, earning him respect and praise across social media platforms.

The Waqf Amendment Bill, which was debated in Lok Sabha on April 2 and Rajya Sabha a day later, was passed by both the Houses even as the Opposition continued its attack calling the bill ‘unconstitutional’.

Veteran parliamentarian Deve Gowda strongly supported the bill in the upper house, pointing towards the government’s duty to protect the rights of all citizens, including Muslims.

“The new Waqf Bill does not interfere with Muslim religious practices. This is very important to remember,” he said.

The bill, he explained, aims to regulate the administration of properties under Waqf Boards, which currently control 8.7 lakh properties spanning 9.4 lakh acres across India. These assets, estimated to be worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore, have been mismanaged due to vested interests.

"This bill protects poor Muslims from their own rich. In the interest of justice, the new bill has been aligned with the basic principles of our Constitution," Deve Gowda emphasised.

Social media users applauded Deve Gowda’s commitment as they went on to highlight how he had been sitting in the Parliament despite extended hours of discussion.

“91-year-old Former PM HD Deve Gowda Ji has been tirelessly sitting in Parliament for nearly 12 hours, supporting the Waqf Bill for the nation's betterment. Salute!” an X user wrote.

Another added, “Former PM HD Deve Gowda requests Rajya Sabha members to support the Waqf Amendment Bill. He also praised JP Nadda for clearly explaining the details of this bill. Great to see 91-year-old MP speaking on this crucial issue!”

Deve Gowda praised the bill for introducing transparency and ensuring that Waqf properties serve the community. He dismissed claims that the bill was about religious control, reiterating that it is focused on revenue management.