Delhi, 3 April (H.S.): Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju presented the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, seeking support from Congress and other Opposition parties.

He noted there are 8.72 lakh Waqf properties in India, with a 2006 Sachar committee report estimating 4.9 lakh properties generated Rs 12,000 crore in income, suggesting higher current figures. In the Rajya Sabha, the NDA comprises 125 MPs, mainly from the BJP, along with allies from JD(U), NCP, TDP, Shiv Sena, and RLD, while hoping to gain support from six nominated MPs and some single parties.

The Opposition's INDIA Bloc has 88 MPs, including Congress and Trinamool Congress members, while the Biju Janata Dal's stance remains unclear. The Waqf Bill recently passed in the Lok Sabha after extensive debate, incorporating Joint Parliamentary Committee recommendations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar