Waqf Bill: Muslims misled for vote bank politics for 70 years, Gov not going to interfere in any religious institution, says Kiren Rijiju

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday strongly defended the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha, and said that the legislation was necessary to ensure the proper use of Waqf properties for the benefit of the poor and disadvantaged sections of the Muslim community.

Rijiju, who tabled the Bill in the Lower House, took aim at the opposition, accusing them of misleading Muslims for the last 70 years for «vote bank politics.»
«How long do you want to mislead them?» Rijiju asked MPs of the Opposition bloc, particularly those affiliated with the Congress.
“The Muslims are strongly supporting this Bill. They have been asking to pass it quickly,” he said.

'Govt to not interfere in religious matters'

The Minister also took the opportunity to clarify the government's stance on religious institutions.

Live Events

“The government is not going to interfere in any religious institution,” Rijiju said while addressing the opposition's protests during his speech.

A significant part of the discussion centered on the contentious issue of Waqf properties.
Rijiju pointed to a long-standing case in Delhi, dating back to 1970, which involved several properties, including the CGO Complex and the Parliament building, with the Delhi Waqf Board claiming them as Waqf properties.
He highlighted that in the past, the UPA government had de-notified 123 properties, transferring them to the Waqf Board, a move Rijiju argued could have jeopardized national assets like the Parliament building.

“If we had not introduced this amendment today, even the Parliament building we are sitting in could have been claimed as Waqf property,” he said, adding that such issues could have persisted if the Modi government had not come