Rejecting the opposition to the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday alleged that a few “powerful people” are objecting to the legislation and accused them of ”misguiding” the people.
“Who are these people who are opposing this bill? There are a few powerful people who have encroached upon the Waqf properties. They are misguiding people. They are saying the bill is unconstitutional. It’s everyone’s right to criticise things, but criticism must have some substance in it,” he said.
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The amendment bill is in the interest of poor Muslims, children, and women. It would ensure accountability and transparency when it comes to managing properties under the Waqf board, the minister said.
He wondered why some people are saying that the Waqf Amendment Bill is unconstitutional. ”Waqf rules have been in existence since before independence. All these provisions are already in existence. If the Waqf Act has been in existence since before independence, then how can it be illegal?” he asked.
Mr Rijiju alleged that innocent Muslims are being misled into believing that the government is going to snatch the properties and rights of the Muslims. ”The false things being spread by some people are very harmful for our society and the nation. I would like to request everyone to please identify those leaders who are lying. These are the people who misguided the country during the CAA. I am very proud to say that the minorities are the safest in India and they enjoy the best rights of freedom in India,” he added.
Regarding the letter sent by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) extending support to the bill and requesting MPs from the state to do the same, Mr Rijiju said that many organisations across religious lines are supporting the legislation.
“The request letter sent by the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council is extremely important for everybody. Many of the organisations across communities are supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. We must understand that the Bill is basically in the interest of the poor Muslims, children, and women, and also to ensure that the properties of the Waqf are managed in a transparent and accountable manner. We ensure the welfare of the common people,” Mr Rijiju, who is also the Minority Affairs Minister, said.
Meanwhile, BJP MP and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the bill Jagdambika Pal says, “While many Muslim clerics are supporting this bill, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board is objecting to it. On the day of ‘Alvida Namaz’, they asked people to wear black armbands in protest against this bill, and even today, on Eid, they have appealed to the people to protest against this bill. But why? Let the amended law come first.”
He said today when Muslims are thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ and the government is talking about ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, Congress, Owaisi and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) are looking at the community as a vote bank.
