The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will come up for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha tomorrow. Talking to the media at Parliament House today, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who also holds the charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, said that eight hours have been allocated for the discussion on the Bill in the House. He added that during the Business Advisory Committee meeting, it was agreed that the time for the discussion may be increased after taking the sense of the House. Mr. Rijiju added that the government is ready to answer all the questions over the bill. The Minister alleged that opposition parties are opposing the legislation due to their appeasement politics. He said the government is committed to a fair and open debate where every MP, across party lines, can participate in the discussion.
(SB- Kiren Rijiju)
The aim of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to streamline the Waqf Board’s work and ensure the efficient management of Waqf properties. The objective of the Bill is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties. The Amendment Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in the country. It also intends to overcome the shortcomings of the previous Act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards by introducing changes such as updating the definitions of Waqf, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing Waqf records. The primary objective of the Bill is to address shortcomings in the management and governance of Waqf properties.
Earlier, the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August last year, following which a Joint Parliamentary Committee was formed under the chairmanship of BJP MP Jagdambika Pal for further consideration. The Committee held thirty-six sittings, wherein they heard the views and suggestions of the representatives of various ministries and departments, as well as key organizations. The Committee received over 97 lakh memoranda in total, through both physical and digital modes.
The BJP has issued a whip to all its MPs in the Lok Sabha to ensure their presence in the Lok Sabha tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Congress also issued a whip to all its MPs in the Lok Sabha to be present in the House for the next three days.
Telugu Desam Party has also issued whip for its MPs in the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, INDIA bloc Floor leaders in both the Houses of Parliament held a meeting in New Delhi this evening to discuss their strategy on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The meeting was attended by senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge as well as Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party, Kalyan Banerjee of TMC, T. R. Baalu of DMK, Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi party and others.