New Delhi [India]: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju assured that the Waqf Amendment Bill is designed to increase transparency and benefit marginalized communities, including women and the poor. Addressing concerns, he emphasized that the bill does not aim to seize Muslim properties but rather introduces a more systematic approach to managing Waqf assets.
Bill to Ensure Transparency and Systematic Reforms
Speaking to the media, Rijiju stated that all Muslim organizations have been consulted and reassured that India, as a democratic nation, operates under the Constitution.
“After the Waqf Amendment Bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha, we will take it to the Rajya Sabha. We will explain it in detail. We have met all the Muslim organizations, and they also know that the Waqf Amendment Bill is not to usurp Muslim properties. This will increase transparency; it will help the poor and women. This is for a system. How can anyone snatch someone’s land? India is a democratic country. This country runs by the Constitution,” Rijiju said.
JPC Report and Key Amendments
🔹 The Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was tabled in Parliament on February 13, amid opposition uproar.
🔹 BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni presented the report in the Rajya Sabha, while JPC chairman Jagadambika Pal tabled it in the Lok Sabha.
🔹 Opposition MPs alleged that their dissent notes were not included in the report, a claim denied by Rijiju.
🔹 The JPC cleared the bill with 25 amendments across 14 sections and clauses on January 29.
Reforming the Waqf Act
The Waqf Act of 1995 was introduced to regulate Waqf properties, but it has been criticized for mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing:
✔ Digitization of records
✔ Enhanced audits and financial transparency
✔ Legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties
✔ Stronger governance to prevent misuse
The bill is expected to bring greater accountability in the administration of Waqf properties while ensuring their use for the benefit of the intended communities.