Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who tabled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in both houses of Parliament and defended it saying the legislation has nothing to do with religion but deals only with properties, sought to allay fears of the members of the minority community, saying Waqf Act does not aim to snatch the land or mosques of the Muslim community.
In an interview with THE WEEK, which will be published in the April 20 edition of the magazine, the minister claimed that the government has done what is in the interest of not only Muslims but the entire nation.
Hitting out at the detractors of the Waqf Act, Rijiju said “...it is being opposed by those who have either not understood the law or those who deliberately want to use it as a political tool.” “There has been an attempt to spread confusion that the law interferes with the religious practices of the Muslims,” he added.
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Speaking about the setting up of the Waqf Council in light of concerns being raised of the representation of non-Muslim members, the minister said the the selection process is democratic and completely secular. "Religious identification with MPs or MLAs is not good. The body will also have representation of experts and those who are knowledgeable about Islamic laws, and also members from municipalities."
Earlier, participating in a discussion on the bill in the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju had said the Waqf Board is a statutory body and, like all government bodies, it should be secular.
The minister told THE WEEK that a majority of Muslims have come out in support of the law to address the problems that existed under the old law.
Grab a copy of the April 20 edition of THE WEEK magazine for more.