NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed sharp exchanges between the federal government and the opposition as Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju launched the Waqf (Modification) Invoice to “appropriate the wrongs achieved by the Congress previously.” The federal government justified the proposed amendments and stated it aimed to empower the marginalised teams throughout the Muslim group, however the opposition known as the Invoice “discriminatory and arbitrary” and linked it to the year-end meeting elections in some states.
The Invoice, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, seeks to “successfully handle” points associated to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removing of encroachments. Rijiju additionally launched a Invoice to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. Its assertion of objects and causes said that the colonial-era laws has develop into outdated and insufficient for efficient administration of Waqf property in fashionable India.
Introducing the Invoice, Rijiju stated “It’s my luck that being non-Muslim, I get alternative to deliver a Invoice for welfare of Muslims.” The Invoice was later referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for wider consultations.
The Union minister accused the opposition of deceptive the Muslims and claimed that there have been many throughout the opposition ranks who assist the Invoice however are silent on account of their celebration’s stand on the difficulty.
“They (Opposition) are deceptive Muslims. Until final evening, Muslim delegations got here to me. Many MPs have instructed me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have stated that they assist the invoice however cannot say it on account of their political events. I cannot take anybody’s title in order that their political profession shouldn’t be ruined,” Rijiju stated.
The Union minister asserted that the federal government had held multi-layered country-wide consultations earlier than introducing the Invoice.
“Now we have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this invoice. All of the backward Muslims and the chairman of the Waqf Boards of 19 states and UTs began the dialogue. A dialogue was held with frequent Muslims in 2023. At the moment a gathering was held in Mumbai and solutions had been made as to what needs to be achieved to enhance the State Waqf Board. Within the Lucknow assembly, discussions had been held with the top-level folks of the UP State Waqf Board, and the views of the frequent folks had been additionally heard. All of them stated that this modification is required,” Rijiju stated.
The Union minister asserted that no provision of the proposed Invoice interfered with the liberty of any faith, nor did it violate any article of the Structure.
Nonetheless, the opposition was not satisfied because it known as it a draconian regulation and a elementary assault on the Structure.
Congress MP Ok C Venugopal accused the federal government of violating the precise to freedom of faith and claimed the laws was being introduced with a watch on the upcoming meeting polls. He stated folks had taught the BJP a lesson — in Lok Sabha polls — for its divisive politics however the saffron celebration is constant with the identical, protecting in thoughts the upcoming meeting elections in states resembling Maharashtra. “It’s a direct assault on freedom of faith … Subsequent you’ll go for Christians, then Jains,” he stated.
Samajwadi Occasion chief Akhilesh Yadav stated the Invoice was being launched to appease the BJP’s hardcore supporters. “What’s the level of together with non-Muslims in Waqf boards when this isn’t achieved in different spiritual our bodies?” Yadav requested.
“The reality is that the BJP has introduced this Invoice to appease its hardcore supporters,” the Kannauj MP stated, including that it was introduced with a watch on the polls.
Nationalist Congress Occasion (NCP)-Sharadchandra Pawar MP Supriya Sule stated her celebration opposed the Invoice because it was in opposition to a specific minority group. “Have a look at what is going on in Bangladesh, there may be a lot ache. It’s the ethical responsibility of a rustic to guard minorities,” she stated.
“The federal government ought to make clear the intent and the timing of the Invoice. We object, withdraw this Invoice. Let’s focus on it after which deliver a Invoice that’s honest and simply,” she demanded.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chairperson Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the Home didn’t have the competence to make the amendments. “It’s a grave assault on the fundamental construction of the Structure because it violates the precept of judicial independence and separation of powers,” he stated. “You might be enemies of Muslims and this Invoice is proof of that,” Owaisi stated.
Nonetheless, Rijiju strongly refuted all opposition objections and justified the proposed amendments.
The Union minister stated within the earlier regulation, there was no provision to problem or evaluate the order or judgement of the tribunal. Now, provision was being made for verdicts to be challenged at larger courts, the minister stated.
“In our nation, no regulation is usually a tremendous regulation and that may’t be above the Structure. Nonetheless, within the 1995 Wakf Act, there are provisions which might be above the provisions within the Structure. Should not that be modified?” he requested.
“The wrongs which you’ve achieved, now, we’re correcting these,” Rijiju stated, hitting out on the Congress.
To justify the necessity for reforms in previous regulation, the Union minister cited instances when a complete village in Tamil Nadu was declared Waqf land. Equally, the Surat municipal company headquarters was declared Waqf property, he stated and requested how is that this potential.
(With inputs from businesses)
The Invoice, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, seeks to “successfully handle” points associated to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removing of encroachments. Rijiju additionally launched a Invoice to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923. Its assertion of objects and causes said that the colonial-era laws has develop into outdated and insufficient for efficient administration of Waqf property in fashionable India.
Introducing the Invoice, Rijiju stated “It’s my luck that being non-Muslim, I get alternative to deliver a Invoice for welfare of Muslims.” The Invoice was later referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) for wider consultations.
The Union minister accused the opposition of deceptive the Muslims and claimed that there have been many throughout the opposition ranks who assist the Invoice however are silent on account of their celebration’s stand on the difficulty.
“They (Opposition) are deceptive Muslims. Until final evening, Muslim delegations got here to me. Many MPs have instructed me that the mafia has taken over Waqf boards. Some MPs have stated that they assist the invoice however cannot say it on account of their political events. I cannot take anybody’s title in order that their political profession shouldn’t be ruined,” Rijiju stated.
The Union minister asserted that the federal government had held multi-layered country-wide consultations earlier than introducing the Invoice.
“Now we have held multi-layered country-wide consultations on this invoice. All of the backward Muslims and the chairman of the Waqf Boards of 19 states and UTs began the dialogue. A dialogue was held with frequent Muslims in 2023. At the moment a gathering was held in Mumbai and solutions had been made as to what needs to be achieved to enhance the State Waqf Board. Within the Lucknow assembly, discussions had been held with the top-level folks of the UP State Waqf Board, and the views of the frequent folks had been additionally heard. All of them stated that this modification is required,” Rijiju stated.
The Union minister asserted that no provision of the proposed Invoice interfered with the liberty of any faith, nor did it violate any article of the Structure.
Nonetheless, the opposition was not satisfied because it known as it a draconian regulation and a elementary assault on the Structure.
Congress MP Ok C Venugopal accused the federal government of violating the precise to freedom of faith and claimed the laws was being introduced with a watch on the upcoming meeting polls. He stated folks had taught the BJP a lesson — in Lok Sabha polls — for its divisive politics however the saffron celebration is constant with the identical, protecting in thoughts the upcoming meeting elections in states resembling Maharashtra. “It’s a direct assault on freedom of faith … Subsequent you’ll go for Christians, then Jains,” he stated.
Samajwadi Occasion chief Akhilesh Yadav stated the Invoice was being launched to appease the BJP’s hardcore supporters. “What’s the level of together with non-Muslims in Waqf boards when this isn’t achieved in different spiritual our bodies?” Yadav requested.
“The reality is that the BJP has introduced this Invoice to appease its hardcore supporters,” the Kannauj MP stated, including that it was introduced with a watch on the polls.
Nationalist Congress Occasion (NCP)-Sharadchandra Pawar MP Supriya Sule stated her celebration opposed the Invoice because it was in opposition to a specific minority group. “Have a look at what is going on in Bangladesh, there may be a lot ache. It’s the ethical responsibility of a rustic to guard minorities,” she stated.
“The federal government ought to make clear the intent and the timing of the Invoice. We object, withdraw this Invoice. Let’s focus on it after which deliver a Invoice that’s honest and simply,” she demanded.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chairperson Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the Home didn’t have the competence to make the amendments. “It’s a grave assault on the fundamental construction of the Structure because it violates the precept of judicial independence and separation of powers,” he stated. “You might be enemies of Muslims and this Invoice is proof of that,” Owaisi stated.
Nonetheless, Rijiju strongly refuted all opposition objections and justified the proposed amendments.
The Union minister stated within the earlier regulation, there was no provision to problem or evaluate the order or judgement of the tribunal. Now, provision was being made for verdicts to be challenged at larger courts, the minister stated.
“In our nation, no regulation is usually a tremendous regulation and that may’t be above the Structure. Nonetheless, within the 1995 Wakf Act, there are provisions which might be above the provisions within the Structure. Should not that be modified?” he requested.
“The wrongs which you’ve achieved, now, we’re correcting these,” Rijiju stated, hitting out on the Congress.
To justify the necessity for reforms in previous regulation, the Union minister cited instances when a complete village in Tamil Nadu was declared Waqf land. Equally, the Surat municipal company headquarters was declared Waqf property, he stated and requested how is that this potential.
(With inputs from businesses)
