Kiren Rijiju says all properties for Muslims only

.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in Rajya Sabha on Apr 3, a day after it cleared the Lok Sabha with 288 in its favour and 232 against it. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the minister slammed the Opposition for calling the bill "illegal" and assured that there is "no question of interference by non-Muslims."

"We consulted state governments, minority commissions, and waqf boards before introducing this bill in Parliament. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was formed, comprising representatives from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Despite doubts raised about the JPC's consultations, after extensive discussions, the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha yesterday," he said.

"You can imagine the income these properties must be generating now," he said. The minister reiterated that the Waqf board "will only oversee, not manage, Waqf properties".

Rijiju, after tabling the bill, said, "The debate that took place in the Parliament on the Waqf Amendment Bill makes one thing clear: property worth lakhs and crores is belonging to Waqf have been illegally occupied. This bill has been brought to address the mismanagement in the Waqf Board... The properties under Waqf are those donated for social and religious works meant for the welfare of our Muslim brothers, and this law has been introduced to manage them. No one should have any doubts about this," he said.