Opposition MPs on the House panel examining the Waqf Amendment Bill have alleged that BJP members ignored their objections, claiming that the recommendations in the report are not in the spirit of the Constitution. According to the MPs, they received the 655-page report only last evening, giving them hardly any time to study it or make recommendations.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) today adopted the draft report after a 16-11 majority vote. The report will be presented to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tomorrow. Opposition MPs have also submitted their dissent notes.
JPC Chairperson and senior BJP leader Jagdambika Pal claimed that several amendments addressed the concerns of Opposition members, asserting that the proposed law would help Waqf boards function more efficiently.
When asked whether the Bill would be reintroduced in the upcoming Budget Session, Pal said that the decision lies with the Speaker.
Opposition’s Allegations
Opposition MPs have alleged that the Bill will destroy Waqf boards and invite government interference in their functioning. Out of the 66 proposed amendments, 23 were suggested by BJP MPs, while 44 came from the Opposition. However, Opposition members claimed that most of their recommendations were rejected.
AIMIM leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi accused the BJP of targeting Muslims through the Bill. “This Bill aims to harm Waqf boards and seize mosques. If Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians can have their members on religious boards, how can you have non-Muslim members on Muslim Waqf boards?” he said.
Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain alleged that the amendments were “unconstitutional” and targeted minorities. “The government drafted the report as per their wishes, ignoring many objections and suggestions,” he claimed.
DMK MP A Raja criticized the rushed process, saying they received the 650-page draft report only at 10 pm yesterday. “How can MPs be expected to submit a dissent note overnight? The Chairman extended the time till 4 pm today, and some of us managed to submit dissent notes. But this is completely undemocratic,” he said, warning that the DMK would challenge the legislation in court.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee described the recommendations as “perverse.” “Victims’ statements and stakeholders’ views were ignored,” he alleged.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said the amendments go against constitutional principles. “Previously, Waqf members were elected, but now nominations will be made by the central government. There is also a provision to bring non-Muslims into Waqf boards, which is unacceptable,” he said.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was referred to the House panel on August 8 after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced it in Lok Sabha.
