New Delhi, April 2 -- Slamming the opposition parties for terming Waqf Amendment Bill as "unconstitutional", Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said the law relating to Waqf property has been in existence for decades and has not been struck down by courts and such words should not be used lightly.

Replying to a marathon debate on Lok Sabha that lasted almost 12 hours, Rijiju said that after the bill is passed, the poor in the Muslim community will thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Hose sat beyond midnight to pass the bill.

"Crores of poor Muslims will thank PM Modi on the bill being passed," he said.

Rijiju rejected criticism by opposition members that the Bill was "anti-Muslim" and said some members were just no...