Union Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized on Wednesday that the Waqf Amendment Bill, set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha, was drafted in the nation’s best interest. He dismissed opposition to the bill as politically driven, stating that if objections were raised based on logic, the government had answers prepared.
Speaking to the media, Rijiju described the day as “historic” and reiterated that the bill had broad support. He claimed that while some groups opposed it for political reasons, the majority of Muslims, along with the entire country, would back the proposed amendments. “I will present the facts in the House,” he asserted. “If someone opposes it, they should do so based on logic, and we are ready to answer them.”
Bill Prepared After Careful Consideration
The Union Minister stressed that the bill had been drafted after extensive discussions and thorough preparation. “When we bring such a bill, we do so after a lot of thought and planning,” he said.
Meanwhile, Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) President Jayant Chaudhary voiced his party’s support for the bill, affirming their alignment with the ruling NDA. “We are with NDA. We’ve issued a whip,” he stated.
Support from Various Leaders and Communities
Union Minister George Kurian also backed the amendment, claiming that it had support across communities. He argued that only large landowners opposed the bill, whereas poor and middle-class Muslims were in favor. “All communities support this amendment bill. We can see that poor Muslims and the middle class also support it. Only big landlords are against it,” he told ANI.
Kurian further explained that the bill ensured transparency as it was related to land and property. “It is very transparent because it deals with land and property,” he remarked.
Opposition Accused of Vote Bank Politics
Uttar Pradesh Minister OP Rajbhar criticized opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and Congress, accusing them of engaging in vote bank politics. “SP, BSP, and Congress supporters are doing vote politics,” Rajbhar alleged.
He pointed out that the Waqf Board rules had been amended three times previously, with changes made to correct shortcomings and ensure beneficiaries under Waqf Board regulations received proper benefits. “The rules have been amended three times before, and shortcomings have been fixed each time. Now, it is being improved again,” he explained.
Rajbhar also challenged those opposing the bill to name a single poor person who had benefited from Waqf Board land. “The government wants to ensure that those under the Waqf Board rules get their due benefits. These people are opposing it just for votes,” he added.
Waqf Amendment Bill Set for Debate in Parliament
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill will be tabled in Parliament on Wednesday. Both the BJP and Congress have issued whips, instructing their MPs to be present in the House for the discussion and voting.
With no clear consensus between the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc, the bill’s fate will likely depend on numerical strength in Parliament.