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Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju indicated that due to the existing case burden, it is not conducive for the courts if every law passed by Parliament is challenged
Union minister Kiren Rijiju decried the communal tension and violent incidents in West Bengal during anti-Waqf protests. (Image: PTI/File)
Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday refused to comment on the Supreme Court’s hearing of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the recently amended Waqf law.
Rijiju indicated that due to the existing case burden, it is not conducive for the courts if every Act passed by Parliament is challenged. “I won’t comment on what happened in SC. India is a parliamentary democracy and Parliament is the will of the people of India. If you keep challenging every Act passed in Parliament in courts, what will the courts do? They are already burdened by so many cases,” he told CNN-News18.
He, however, reaffirmed his faith in the judiciary and the country’s courts are “very effective” and he has “total trust” in them.
‘MANY CMs AND PMs HAVE BEEN TO JAIL, LOP CAN TOO’
“If you don’t act against corruption, they (opposition) say the government is doing nothing and when agencies do their work, they say it is political vendetta,” he said, taking a swipe at the opposition.
The Union minister said the opposition never protests when a chargesheet is filed against others, but their reaction is vastly different when it comes to the Gandhi family.
“If you have nothing to hide, why fear? Many CMs and PMs have been to jail… LoP (leader of opposition) can too,” he said.
‘MURSHIDABAD VIOLENCE INCITED BY BENGAL GOVT’
Rijiju further decried the violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas districts during anti-Waqf protests. He blamed the Mamata Banerjee-led government in the state for inciting the communal tension and incidents, which left at least three people dead and several injured on April 11 and 12.
“It is very unfortunate and condemnable that some people, who are holding constitutional positions, are openly saying they will not adhere to the law passed in Parliament,” he said. “Violence was incited by the state government. Mamata Banerjee herself said she will not implement the Waqf law in West Bengal, and that statement led to the unrest.”
Slamming those who have used Muslims for vote bank politics, he also said the same people who misused waqf properties are now the ones protesting against the legislation. “…And those who have used Muslims for vote-bank politics are also protesting. The weaker sections of the Muslim community are actually welcoming the Act. The majority of Muslims have understood that Waqf properties were not being utilised for the welfare of the Muslim community,” he added.
During its ongoing hearing of petitions against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the violence in West Bengal and said it was “very disturbing”. “One thing that is very disturbing is the violence. The matter is before court and we will decide; this should not happen,” said Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
Two petitions in the top court have sought a court-monitored probe into the violence. One PIL was filed by lawyer Shashank Shekhar Jha seeking the court to set up a special investigation team (SIT), while another was filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari seeking the constitution of a five-member judicial enquiry commission headed by a former SC judge.
One of the pleas sought a direction to the state government to file a report in the top court on the violence aside from the directions for protecting people’s lives and properties. The Calcutta High Court recently ordered the deployment of central forces in violence-hit Murshidabad district.
