New Delhi [India], April 2 : DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday reaffirmed that INDIA alliance stand together to oppose the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
"The DMK is opposing it. Our CM MK Stalin has passed a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. We will not give up on the minorities of this country. The INDIA alliance stands together to oppose this Bill," Kanimozhi said.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh alleged that this is BJP's initiation to "take possession" of Waqf properties and give it to their friends.
"The people of the country should beware now that BJP has made an initiation towards taking possession of Waqf properties and giving them to their own friends. They will do the same with properties belonging to gurudwaras, temples and churches," Sanjay Singh said.
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha.
Introducing the bill, Rijiju said that Joint Parliamentary Committee, which examined the legislation, held very extensive discussions and such wide consultations on the legislation had never been done in the parliamentary history of India.
"I want to say that the discussion that has taken place on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Joint Committee of both the Houses has never been done in the parliamentary history of India till date. I thank and congratulate all the members of the Joint Committee...Till date, a total of 284 delegations....of different communities have presented their views and suggestions before the committee. Waqf boards of 25 state governments and union territories have also presented their submissions," Rijiju said.
The bill was earlier presented in the Lok Sabha on August of last year and a Joint Parliamentary Committee, headed by BJP member Jagdambika Pal, examined it.
The bill seeks to amend Act of 1995. The Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records.