Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday delivered a strong defence of the proposed Waqf Bill, asserting that the government’s only aim is to bring transparency, prevent misuse and ensure proper management of Waqf properties across the country. Addressing concerns raised by Opposition parties and community groups, Rijiju said the Bill has been framed to protect genuine Waqf assets and ensure they serve the purpose for which they were originally dedicated.
Rijiju clarified that the government itself will not interfere directly in disputes and that all matters regarding ownership, paperwork irregularities or management issues will be handled exclusively by the Waqf Tribunal. “If any Waqf property has paperwork issues or faces difficulties for some reason, the Tribunal will examine it. I cannot investigate that myself — the Tribunal will handle it,” he said, emphasising the legal and institutional safeguards built into the Bill.
The Union Minister further stressed that properties legitimately designated as Waqf will have robust, verifiable documentation. “If a property is genuinely a Waqf property, proper documentation will be maintained. There will be solid records,” Rijiju added.
Highlighting the purpose behind the legislation, Rijiju said the Waqf law was introduced to ensure that Waqf assets are managed properly, efficiently and transparently. He underlined that protecting these properties from encroachment, corruption and mismanagement is essential to ensure they continue to serve the community.
“The main purpose is to prevent misuse of Waqf properties. They should be used for good purposes in the name of Allah, for the benefit of poor Muslims, women, children, orphans and marginalized sections of the Muslim community. This is our objective,” he stated.
