Rijiju says UPA government brought the amendment which made a riding provision that the waqf law is above another other law in force in India.
He says, regarding the waqf by user, there was a case where the UPA government denotified 134 properties and gave it to the waqf board. He says the present building of the Parliament was also being claimed as waqf.
Rijiju questions why the proposed Bill has become a "triggered" point for discussions. He says, in 2013, the UPA Government diluted the law and allowed anyone to create a waqf board irrespective of religion.
Rijiju says when the Waqf Law was first introduced, nobody called it unconstitutional. But now, when the reforms are being made by the Government for better management, there is opposition from the political parties.
Amit Shah: The Bill was sent to the JPC and JPC gave its views and it again went to the cabinet. The cabinet approved the amendments.
Kiren Rijiju says the Government has considered the suggestions and recommendations of the JPC in regard to the Waqf Bill.
Legislator NK Premachandran says the Joint Parliamentary Committee has recommended new provisions in the 2024 Amendment Bill, which it does not have the power to do so.
Bill taken up for discussion.