*Bill has nothing to do with the religious practice of Muslims, only deals with Waqf properties*
New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the Modi government had saved key public properties, including the Parliament building, from being taken over by the Waqf Board, a situation he claimed would have occurred if the Congress-led UPA had remained in power.
Rijiju made the statement while tabling the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, emphasizing that the bill concerns Waqf properties, not religious practices.
Rijiju explained that since 1970, the Delhi Waqf Board had been claiming ownership of several properties, including the Parliament building and CGO Complex. Under the UPA government, he said, a notification had been issued handing over these properties to the Waqf Board. He further warned that without the bill’s amendments, 123 properties, including Parliament, could have been claimed by the board.
Rijiju, who also serves as the Minority Affairs Minister, defended the bill, clarifying that it does not interfere with religious practices or manage mosques. The bill aims to make Waqf Boards more inclusive by ensuring representation from diverse Muslim sects, women, and non-Muslims. He also denied that the bill would confiscate any properties or affect individuals’ land.
Opposition leaders, including Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi, criticized the bill, accusing the government of misleading the public and undermining the constitution. Gogoi rejected Rijiju’s claims regarding the transfer of properties during the UPA’s tenure, arguing that the amendments could worsen the situation.
The debate continues as the bill moves forward in the Lok Sabha, with the ruling BJP seeking support from its allies to pass the legislation.
