Union Minister Defends Waqf (Amendment) Bill Amid Opposition Criticism

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, asserting it does not impede religious freedoms or violate the Constitution. He justified the amendments, stating the existing Waqf Act 1995 was ineffective and mentioned that a joint parliamentary committee recommended revisiting it.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday reaffirmed that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill does not intend to interfere with the freedom of any religious body and firmly asserted that no constitutional provisions have been violated.

Responding to objections raised by various opposition members during the bill's introduction in Lok Sabha, Rijiju explained that the original Waqf Act of 1995 had not fulfilled its intended purpose, necessitating the proposed amendments.

'I want to tell Congress these amendments are being brought to achieve what you (Congress) couldn't,' Rijiju stated. He further defended the amendments, indicating that a joint parliamentary committee had recommended a re-evaluation of the Waqf Act of 1995, and he accused the opposition of opposing the bill for political reasons.

(With inputs from agencies.)