Srinagar: The Narendra Modi-led government has the full backing of the two key NDA allies on the contentious Waqf Amendment Bill, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday.
He confirmed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar led Janata Dal-United and Andra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) are on board with the proposed legislation. Opposition leaders had sought to rally them against the bill given their states have significant Muslim populations.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar regarding Budget 2025-26, Rijiju dismissed the criticism of the legislation saying rumours and narrative are being peddled against the Waqf bill.
"Our sole objective to present it in the Parliament is to ensure transparency through the bill. The world's largest Waqf property is in India but it is not benefiting the poor Muslims, women and children," he said.
Rijiju expressed concern that despite Waqf's assets worth crores, many in the community still struggle. "The bill does not snatch away properties and give it to someone else. Our country runs as per the Constitution. We want fairness and transparency," he said in a reply to a query.
The BJP Minister, flanked by several party leaders from the Kashmir unit, admitted some opposition but claimed that Muslim MPs had privately expressed their support to him. However, he refused to name them. "But they are opposing it (the bill) due to pressure from their parties," he added.
Rijiju said that he has received support from "thousands" of Muslims especially women for the legislation. Without commenting on the timeline for restoration of J&K statehood, he quoted the Prime Minister and Home Minister saying they have assured it will be restored in "due course of time". Rijiju said that the Centre has no tolerance for corruption and corrupt practices.
"There is no loophole from. The central government is taking action against corrupt practices. The clean and sound central government will have a percolating effect on state governments including Jammu and Kashmir," he said while responding to a question on the ongoing probe in the Srinagar Smart City project by the Anti Corruption Bureau.
Speaking on the Union Budget, he said it will provide big relief for the middle class in the face of tax relaxation. Replying to a query on the reduction in budgetary allocation to Jammu and Kashmir, he said the decision has been made given the spending capacity of the Union Territory.
"The budgetary allocations are according to the Union Territory status. The finance minister has made it clear that the allocation is as per spending capacity. She also said whatever money is needed will be provided. It does not include the centrally-sponsored schemes and ongoing projects. There is no dearth of resources," he said.
Rijiju said the Budget will boost the handicraft sector, horticulture and agriculture besides small-scale industries in Jammu and Kashmir.
Where does the Waqf (Amendment) bill stand?
On January 30, the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill adopted the report by a majority vote and submitted it to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Committee Chairman Jagdambika Pal had redacted parts of the dissent notes contending that they cast aspersions on the parliamentary panel.
The report was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on Thursday (Feb 13) with the Lok Sabha speaker allowing the submission of dissent notes in entirety as demanded by the opposition and Home Minister Amit Shah asserting the BJP had no objection to it.
The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed stormy scenes with opposition members trooping to the Wells of the respective Houses protesting against the "undemocratic" action of the committee chairman.
The Rajya Sabha also witnessed chaos as Rijiju, who is also Parliamentary Affairs Minister, rejected the allegations by opposition MPs led by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge that dissent notes were deleted from the report.
Following the chaos, the parliament proceedings were adjourned till March 10, bringing the first part of the Budget Session to a close. The Waf (Bill)
