New Delhi, Apr 3 (UNI) After getting approval from the Lok Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday moved The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 in the Rajya Sabha, to get its approval.
The Bill is aimed at providing transparency in the management of the Waqf properties.
Home Minister Amit Shah and senior Ministers were present at the time of tabling the Bill in the upper house.
After moving the Bill, Kiren Rijiju said that the Joint parliamentary Committee (JPC) had a thorough deliberation on the Bill.
He appealed to Congress party and other Opposition parties to support the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025.
Rijiju stated that the new legislation will ensure representation from all Muslim sects -- Shia, Sunni, Bohra, Aghakhani (Ismaili) -- in the Waqf Board, along with members from backward classes, making it more inclusive.
He said that in the proposed Central Waqf Board, out of 22 members, a maximum of four will be non-Muslims, while at least two members will be women. Similarly, in the State Waqf Boards, which will have 11 members, not more than three will be non-Muslim.
The Minister said that the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, will have a new and a beautiful name, which no body will have any objection, and it will be called as "UMEED" (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development) Bill.
Alleging that the UPA government engaged in "appeasement politics," Kiren Rijiju stated that just before the Model Code of Conduct came into effect for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the then Congress-led UPA government denotified 123 prime properties in the National Capital belonging to the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry and handed them over to the Delhi Waqf Board.
Kiren Rijiju said that the Muslim community is largely welcoming the bill, and despite some opposition, he invited critics to meet with Muslim delegations who have expressed strong support for the bill.
The Minister said that the Bill was drafted following wide discussions with various stakeholders across the country. He further mentioned that over 280 organisations provided suggestions, and more than one crore individuals submitted memorandums.
It may be mentioned that the landmark and controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed by the Lok Sabha late Wednesday night, with 288 members voting in its favour and 232 against it.
The legislation, which the government said seeks to improve the administration of Waqf properties and introduce technology-led management to create transparency, was passed by the Lower House of Parliament after an extensive debate which began at noon on Wednesday and went on till over 1 AM.
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