Kiren Rijiju Targets Sonia Gandhi Highlighting Record 17-Hour Debate In RS On Waqf Bill: 'History Made But...'
Kiren Rijiju addressed a press conference on Friday and discussed the Waqf Amendment Bill. The bill was passed after a 17-hour-long debate, setting a new record in the Rajya Sabha.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju addressed a press conference on Friday and addressed the lengthy discussion and record achievements during the debate over the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha. He highlighted that the debate lasted for a total of 17 hours and 2 minutes, setting a new record in the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha.
“One important milestone that we have achieved in Rajya Sabha... Yesterday, in the Rajya Sabha, we created a new record. The earlier record was in 1981 when the Parliament discussed the Essential Service Maintenance Act... We created a new record — we discussed for 17 hours and 2 minutes in Rajya Sabha (over the Waqf Amendment Bill). It seems extremely difficult to break this record... There was not a single disruption during the discussion over the Waqf Amendment Bill,” Rijiju said at a press conference.
The remarks of Rijiju come after Congress leader Sonia Gandhi criticized the passage of the bill, claiming that it was pushed through forcefully and in violation of due procedure.
Rijiju also clarified the efforts involved in passing the bill and stated that the discussion was extensive and productive and that it was not rushed or forced.
"Sonia Gandhi is a senior leader; I don't want to comment on her. Yesterday, during the parliamentary party meeting of Congress, a statement was released that the Bill (the Waqf Amendment Act) was passed forcefully and bulldozed the procedures. I just clarified and stated the amount of effort that has been put into that. We created a record of the discussion. There has never been this much discussion in the parliamentary history," Rijiju added, defending the legislative process and the extensive deliberations that preceded the bill's passage in Parliament.
After a heated debate, the Parliament passed the Waqf Amendment Bill in the early hours of Friday.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankar said, "Ayes 128 and Noes 95, Absent zero. The Bill is passed."
The House sat beyond midnight to pass the legislation. The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday.
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