Parliament adopts Waqf Amendment Bill draft report, opposition submits dissent note
PTC News Desk: The Joint Parliamentary Committee has adopted Waqf Amendment Bill draft report and the amended version of the proposed law with majority vote. The panel led by BJP leader Jagdambika Pal said that 16 members voted in favour, while 11 opposed it.
However, opposition leaders have also submitted their dissent notes on the report.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was referred to the joint parliamentary committee following its introduction in Lok Sabha on August 8, 2024 by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The Bill aims to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to address issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.
Earlier on January 27, the panel had adopted all the amendments proposed by ruling BJP-NDA and rejected all the changes proposed by the opposition in a clause-by-clause discussion.
Some amendments also include allowing state government officials, along with district magistrates, to be appointed for certain roles and increasing Waqf tribunals members from two to three members.
However, the JPC's action ignited criticism from the opposition leaders.
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that he will oppose the bill when it will be discussed in the Parliament during the Budget Session.
"Last night, we were given a 655-page draft report, and it is humanly impossible for anyone to read such a lengthy report in such a short time and give their opinion. Nevertheless, we made an effort and submitted our dissent report," he said.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee also mentioned that he has submitted his dissent note over the report.
"I have given my dissent note... We received a 656-page draft yesterday around 7:55 pm... The observation and recommendation of the committee in this report are wholly perverse. Statements of the victims have not been taken into consideration. What we said during the course of deliberations has not been taken into consideration... The question that arises is, whether the stakeholders' view which we have expressed, why did it not appeal to the chairman. According to me, the JPC proceedings have turned into mockery... All other views have been totally ignored," he said.
- PTC NEWS