New Bill Safeguards Rights, Not Takes Them: Kiren Rijiju Defends Waqf Board Amendment - Union Minister Kiren Rijiju robustly defended the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, 2024, in Parliament on Thursday against Opposition claims of it being "unconstitutional" and infringing on religious freedom. Rijiju, during his nearly hour-long speech, stated, "This bill does not interfere with the freedom of any religious body. Far from taking anyone's rights, it has been introduced to grant rights to those who have been deprived of them."

Rijiju highlighted that the new Bill mandates the inclusion of women members in state waqf boards and the central council. He further explained that under current regulations, many children are unable to inherit property because such lands are designated as waqf. He cited an example where a village was declared waqf property and questioned, "How can municipal land be declared as waqf? This bill aims to resolve such issues."

The minister also addressed concerns regarding illegal encroachment and the transfer of waqf land, revealing that the government has received online complaints about these issues. He accused "mafia" groups of taking over some properties and noted that some MPs had privately endorsed the Bill.

Responding to Opposition claims that there was no prior consultation before the Bill's introduction, Rijiju asserted that extensive consultations occurred at various levels, including official, political, and state government representations. He emphasized that "active consultation" has been ongoing since 2015, involving Waqf board chairpersons, CEOs, and other representatives.

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