New Delhi: On Thursday, Kiren Rijiju, a minister in the Indian government, presented the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament). Earlier, the Lok Sabha (Lower House) had already approved this bill. Now, it needs to pass in the Rajya Sabha to become a law.
Waqf properties are lands or buildings donated for religious or charitable purposes, mainly under Islamic law. The government wants to improve how these properties are managed. The bill suggests: making the Central Waqf Council and State Waqf Boards more effective, ensuring these properties benefit people, especially women and children, stopping misuse of Waqf lands and increasing transparency.
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While speaking, Rijiju humorously requested opposition members not to say things that could cause arguments. He said, "Say things that sound good to our ears too!" This made Home Minister Amit Shah, sitting next to him, smile and even tap the desk in support.
There are 8.72 lakh Waqf properties in India today (up from 4.9 lakh in 2006). These properties generate thousands of crores in income, which can help in community welfare. The bill aims to fix problems like poor management and corruption. If the Rajya Sabha passes the bill, it will become law, helping better manage Waqf properties for public good.
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