Kiren Rijiju calls on VP Dhankhar at Parliament House
Aug 08, 2024
New Delhi [India], August 8 : Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju called Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar at Parliament House on Thursday.
The meeting came after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.
https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1821538547188248971
In a post on X, the Official account of Vice-President of India said, "Shri Kiren Rijiju Ji, Hon'ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; and Minority Affairs, Dr Virendra Kumar Ji, Hon'ble Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, and Shri Piyush Goyal Ji, Hon'ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, called on the Hon'ble Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at Parliament House today."
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to "effectively address" issues related to the powers of the State Waqf Boards, registration and survey of waqf properties and removal of encroachments, was introduced in Lok Sabha.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which amends the Waqf Act, 1995, was introduced by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM strongly opposed the introduction of the bill, saying its provisions were against federalism and the constitutional provisions. While some members demanded the withdrawal of the bill, many suggested that should be sent to a standing committee.
Kiren Rijijiu agreed to the suggestions for further scrutiny of the bill by a parliamentary committee.
"We are not running away anywhere. So, if this has to be referred to any committee, I would like to speak on behalf of my govt - a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be formed, this Bill be referred to it & detailed discussion be held," he said.
Rijijiu gave a detailed reply to the points raised by opposition parties and said the government was acting on recommendations made by a panel constituted when the Congress-led UPA government was in power.
