The Modi government on Wednesday introduced an amendment bill in the Lok Sabha to make changes in the Waqf Board Act. There was an uproar in the Parliament regarding this bill. During this time, while the opposition created a ruckus, from the ruling party, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju explained in detail why there was a need to bring this bill. Seeking support from the opposition, Rijiju said that support this bill, you will get the blessings of crores of people. A few people have taken over the entire Waqf Board and this bill has been brought to correct the justice that common Muslim people did not get. It will be recorded in history who has supported and who has opposed this bill.
Kiren Rijiju said that we are not going to run away
When there was a lot of debate regarding this bill, Kiren Rijiju said that, we propose that this bill be sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee. On this the speaker said that yes, I will form a committee soon. At the same time, Asaduddin Owaisi demanded division on this. The speaker asked how division is formed on this. Owaisi said that we have been demanding division from the beginning. Kiren Rijiju said that we are not going to run away. While presenting the bill, he said that this bill should be passed from here. After this, whatever scrutiny needs to be done, we are ready. Make this bill and send it to JPC. Members of every party should be in that committee, whoever wants to do scrutiny, we are ready.
Example given from the case of Bohra community
Earlier, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju cited individual cases regarding the need to introduce the bill. He said that ‘this is a case of Bohra community. There is a trust in Mumbai, it was settled by the High Court. Dawood lives near Ibrahim. Asia’s largest scheme has been launched at the same place. Some man complained to the Waqf Board regarding the same property and the Waqf Board notified him. A project was disturbed through the Waqf Board by a person who is neither in that city nor in that state.
Arbitrariness happened in Tiruchirappalli also
There was a 1500 year old Sundareshwar Temple in Tiruchirappalli district in Tamil Nadu. When a man went to sell 1.2 acre property in the village, he was told that it was Waqf land. The entire village has been declared Waqf property. Municipal Corporation land was declared Waqf property. The Karnataka Minority Commission report in 2012 said that the Waqf Board had converted 29 thousand acres of land into commercial property.
They were being so arbitrary. Such a big scam is happening before our eyes. The case of Dr. Baria Bushra Fatima is from Lucknow. In what difficult circumstances is that woman living with her child? If their father passes away, they and their children will not get the property. Akhilesh ji, you were the Chief Minister, no one told you. Look not from the perspective of religion, but from the perspective of justice. Don’t try to run away by making allegations.
Government of India has the right to bring bill on Waqf- Rijiju
Kiren Rijiju said that the arguments given by the opposition while opposing this bill do not stand. No provision of the Constitution has been violated in this bill. This is not interference in any religion. This bill was brought not to take away anyone’s rights, but to give space to those who were suppressed. He also mentioned a decision of the Supreme Court and also said that it is in concrete.
The Government of India has the right to bring the bill. This Waqf Amendment Bill was introduced many times from the British era till after independence. This Act was first brought in 1954, after which many amendments have been made. The amendment that we are going to bring today is the Waqf Act 1955 which was amended in 2013 and such a provision was inserted due to which we have to bring this amendment.
Waqf Board has been captured by a few people: Rijiju
Whatever provision was brought in the Waqf Amendment of 1955, people have seen it in different ways. Many committees, many people have done complete analysis. It has been found that the purpose for which the Waqf Amendment of 1955 was brought was not being fulfilled. Many flaws have been found. If this amendment could not do whatever you wanted, then this bill has been brought only for that. We are all elected representatives. Support this bill, you will get the blessings of crores of people. A few people have taken over the Waqf Board. The poor did not get justice.
It will be recorded in history who were in opposition. Many committees have pointed out the flaws in the 1955 Act from 2014 to today even during the Congress era. In 1976, there was a big recommendation in the Waqf Inquiry Report that proper steps should be taken to discipline it, tribal formation should be formed to simplify the differences. The method of audit and accounts is not proper, there should be complete management. Waqf Al Aulad should be improved.
What is JPC?
Parliament needs an agency on which the entire House has confidence. There are committees of Parliament for this. These committees consist of members of Parliament. JPC is formed to investigate cases of financial irregularities in any bill or any government activity.
These committees are of two types. Standing committees and temporary committees. The tenure of standing committees is one year and their work continues continuously. Financial committees, department related committees and some other types of committees are standing committees. At the same time, temporary or ad-hoc committees are formed for some special matters. When their work ends, the existence of these committees also ends. JPC is formed when one house passes its proposal and the other house supports it.