Government Amendments Approved, Opposition’s Concerns Ignored in Parliamentary Committee Vote
New Delhi – The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has passed the Waqf Amendment Bill after a series of discussions, rejecting all objections raised by opposition parties. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs had their amendments accepted, while those proposed by the opposition were dismissed outright.
Jagdambika Pal, BJP Member of Parliament (MP) and head of the parliamentary committee, confirmed that the committee had approved 14 amendments put forth by NDA members. “The proposals submitted by NDA members have been accepted,” he said following the meeting. “We are confident that these amendments will enhance the transparency and accountability of the Waqf Boards.”
The committee convened on Monday to discuss the Waqf Amendment Act, considering 44 proposed amendments. Among the significant changes discussed was a major amendment stipulating that existing Waqf properties cannot be questioned based on ‘waqf by the users.’ This has sparked controversy, with critics warning that it could undermine religious rights.
The voting at the committee meeting saw 16 MPs from the ruling government vote in favour of the amendments, while 10 opposition members opposed them. The opposition raised concerns over 44 clauses of the bill, but all their objections were rejected.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, an outspoken critic of the bill, expressed dissatisfaction with the proceedings. “They did not even give us time to speak. No rules or procedures were followed,” Banerjee said. “This is a clear indication that the government is not interested in hearing the concerns of the opposition.”
The Waqf Amendment Bill, first introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, particularly for what they describe as violations of the religious rights of the Muslim community. However, the ruling BJP has defended the bill, claiming it will improve governance and bring much-needed reform to the functioning of Waqf Boards.
The JPC is expected to circulate its draft report on January 28, with the official adoption of the report set for January 29. It is believed that the committee will present a detailed 500-page report during the upcoming budget session.
Throughout the bill’s consideration, the Waqf Committee has held 34 meetings in Delhi and visited multiple states, engaging more than 24 stakeholders. Of the 31 committee members, 13 are from opposition parties.