Apprehensions About Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 Must Be Addressed, Says Key Bihar Aide

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's aide welcomed the Centre’s decision to send the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 to the Joint Parliamentary Committee for scrutiny. The bill has raised significant concerns within the minority community, and addressing these apprehensions is deemed crucial before finalising the legislation.

A key aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday welcomed the Centre's decision to send the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for scrutiny, emphasising the importance of addressing the minority community's apprehensions about the Bill.

Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Bihar's Parliamentary Affairs Minister and a trusted colleague of Nitish Kumar, stated that the JD(U) supports the decision to review the Bill thoroughly. ''Our leader, Nitish Kumar Ji, believes that issues concerning minority communities must be handled with utmost sensitivity,'' he said.

The bill, introduced in Lok Sabha and referred to the JPC after heated debate, aims to promote transparency in the functioning of Waqf institutions. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed sending the Bill to the JPC following strong opposition criticism.

(With inputs from agencies.)