Rijiju Targets Congress Over Waqf Amendments In 2013

When our country has the largest Waqf property in the world, why hasn't it been used for the education, medical treatment, skill development, and income generation of poor Muslims? Why has no progress been made in this regard so far? -Kiren Rijiju

- AGENCIES

Introducing the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, in Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday targeted UPA government's 2013 amendment in the Waqf Act, questioning the powers provided under section 108.

Rijiju noted three changes made by the UPA government, "In 2013, right before Lok Sabha elections in 2014, there were some steps taken which will raise questions in your mind. In 2013, the act was changed to allow Sikhs, Hindus, Parsis and others to create Waqf. Everyone knows Waqf is for Muslims to create Waqf in the name of Allah."

Rijiju added that the UPA government made Waqf board-specific, limiting it to a single community and provided an overriding effect with section 108.