Opposition MPs Protest as House Panel Adopts Waqf Amendment Bill Report Amid Dissent

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th Jan. Opposition members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Waqf Amendment Bill have raised strong objections after the committee adopted its draft report with a 16-11 majority vote. The report, which will be presented to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tomorrow, has been criticized by the Opposition for ignoring their concerns and recommendations. They allege that the report is unconstitutional and does not align with the spirit of the Constitution.

The opposition MPs further claimed that they were given the 655-page report just a day before the vote, with insufficient time to thoroughly study it or present their recommendations. In response, they have submitted dissent notes to the report.

The committee’s chairperson, BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, defended the amendments, stating that they addressed the concerns of the Opposition and would help Waqf boards operate more effectively. When asked about the possibility of the Bill being reintroduced during the upcoming Budget Session, Pal noted that it was for the Speaker to decide.

Opposition members, however, argued that the proposed amendments would undermine Waqf boards and introduce undue government interference. They particularly objected to the inclusion of non-Muslim members on Muslim Waqf boards, with AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi stating, “This Bill is against Muslims. It aims to harm Waqf boards and seize mosques.”

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain also criticized the report, calling the amendments “unconstitutional” and accusing the government of targeting minorities. He claimed that several important suggestions and objections were ignored in the final draft.

DMK MP A Raja highlighted the rushed process, revealing that the draft report was given to members late at night, leaving little time to review and submit dissent notes. He vowed to challenge the legislation in court. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also voiced concerns, questioning the fairness of the process and accusing the BJP of undermining democratic principles.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on August 8, seeks to amend laws governing Waqf boards in India.