Rijiju defends amendments to Waqf law in Lok Sabha

Says, Bill does not intend to interfere with the freedom of any religious body

New Delhi  : Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill does not intend to interfere with the freedom of any religious body and that no provision of the Constitution has been violated.

Responding to objections raised by several opposition members on the introduction of the bill in Lok Sabha, he said Waqf Act 1995 did not serve its purpose, hence the amendment was planned. “I want to tell Congress these amendments are being brought to achieve what you (Congress) couldn’t,” he said.

Defending the amendments, Rijiju said a joint parliamentary committee had recommended that Waqf Act 1995 should be re-looked.

CNI