Under pressure from the opposition parties, Kiren Rijiju, the Minority Affairs Minister, suggested on Thursday that the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, be referred to the joint parliamentary committee for scrutiny.
Some members of the opposition voiced their opinions, believing that the bill infringes upon the federal relations and religious rights of the citizens. Congress MP KC Venugopal called it an “attack on the federal structure,” and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi said it was unconstitutional.
Delivering a word for the bill, Rijiju dismissed its bias against the religious rights of individuals, stating that the Supreme Court has ruled that the waqf boards do not come under the purview of the required provisions in the constitution.
This bill shall ensure that it deals with matters concerning the Waqf Boards, the registration of properties, and the removal of other structures built on such properties. It recommends the integration of non-Muslims within the Waqf councils and the proper meaning of the term ‘Waqf’ to avoid abuse.
The change of policy for the participation of non-Muslims in the management of Muslim Waqfs has been widely condemned by the opposition parties, who termed it as interference in the religious affairs of Muslims.
The government’s effort to balance the protesting voices and the intention to protect the Waqf properties could be seen from the continued debate and the decision to refer the bill to a joint committee.
