'It's About Justice For...': Rijiju Rebuffs 'Anti-Muslim' Charge, Refers Waqf Bill To Joint Parliamentary Panel

Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday dismissed allegations of opposition related to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, saying that the BJP-led government will fight for the rights of those who never got justice.

“Forget about snatching anybody’s right. We in this bill are trying to bring justice for those who never got justice, and we will fight for their rights. The amendment to the Bill has not happened for the first time ever since independence multiple times have been amended,” he said.

“This bill has been now titled – ‘United Waqf Act Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act’, 1995- ‘UMEED’….” Rijiju later announced.

Kiren Rijiju on Thursday moved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Lok Sabha. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill will amend the law governing Waqf boards and aims to rename the Waqf Act, 1995, as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

Speaking in Lok Sabha on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of “misleading” the Muslims.

“They (Opposition) are misleading Muslims…Till last night, Muslim delegations came to me…Many MPs have told me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have said that they personally support the bill but can’t say it due to their political parties…We have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this bill…” he said.

Rijiju further noted that this bill being brought today is “based on the report of Sachar committee (which called for reform) which you made (Congress)…”

Rijiju urged the Opposition to support the Bill saying, “We bring this bill to tell the people of the country that we could do, whatever you could not ever do. Support this bill, I appeal to everyone because it will get you blessings of crores of people.”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Recommends JPC

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government has no objection to the scrutiny of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and recommended it be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for discussion.

“We are open to scrutiny and discussion. We are not running away. If this has to go it should go to JPC and we can discuss it in detail. JPC should be formed,” he said.

Opposition On Waqf (Amendment) Bill

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi accused the Centre of dividing the country and targeting Muslims. “This bill violates the principles of Articles 14, 15 and 25 of the Constitution. This bill is both discriminatory and arbitrary…By bringing this bill, you (the Central govt) are doing the work of dividing the nation not uniting it. This bill is evidence of the fact that you are an enemy of the Muslims,” he said.

Congress MP KC Venugopal called the Bill an “attack on the federal system”.

“…We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra, Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system…”

Congress MP Manish Tewari called the Bill “violative” of various provisions of the Constitution. “The Bill is also violative of the legislative competence of the government to even bring this Bill to Parliament because there is no entry in the union list which pertains to religious endowments. So under those circumstances, the Bill suffers from the malady of excessive delegation of powers, which is an assault on the federal structure…The bill needs to be withdrawn,” he said.

Haj Association of India Welcomes Waqf (Amendment) Bill

Haj Association of India chairman, A. Aboobucker said the Bill will be good for women’s empowerment and will help the poor people.

“On behalf of the Haj Association of India, New Delhi, we welcome this amendment as this Act is quite old. As per the current scenario, some amendments need to be made. Govt of India has taken a big initiative and we welcome that, there is no doubt. Some of the organisations and political parties, a few are opposing this at the pan India level. But, I think it will be good for women’s empowerment and will help the poor people…” he said.