Bill aimed at giving rights to Muslim women: Rijiju

Rijiju responds to the discussion, says Opposition's objections are not valid.

Rijiju says argument that this House lacks Legislative competence to pass the Bill is incorrect because the Bill doesn't violate any provision of the Constitution, adds that even SC has said that Waqf Board doesn't fall under purview of Article 25.

The minority affairs minister says the Bill is aimed at giving rights to Muslim women and not to deny rights to anyone.

Rijiju also asserts that the Bill deals with subjects in the concurrent list and so there is no question of violating federalism because Centre can draft Bill on subjects under Concurrent list, adds Bill aims to rectify bad amendments made to the Waqf Act in 1995 and 2013 (under Congress led regimes).

Rijiju says 2 previous committees set up by the Congress governments, one for reviewing Waqf and other, the Sachar committee, for studying the situation of Muslims in India, had recommended various reforms of the Waqf system.