Joint Parliamentary panel on Waqf Bill gets Lok Sabha nod on extension

The parliamentary panel’s meetings have become a virtual battleground between the Opposition and the ruling party members, who have been vociferously debating the changes to the Waqf Bill

The term of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was extended till the last day of the Budget session of Parliament in 2025, which is usually in February or March, by Lok Sabha on Thursday (November 28, 2024). Committee Chairman and BJP leader Jagdambika Pal moved the resolution in the Lower House, which approved it with a voice vote.

The parliamentary panel’s meetings have become a virtual battleground between the Opposition and the ruling party members, who have been vociferously debating the changes to the Waqf Bill proposed by the government.

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On Wednesday, the Opposition members of the committee staged a walkout and slammed Mr. Pal for asserting that the panel’s draft report was ready. Mr. Pal and the BJP members of the committee then reached out to Opposition members and indicated their willingness to press for an extension of the committee’s deadline of November 29 to submit its report to the Lok Sabha.

“There is a consensus within the panel that we haven’t yet spoken to many of the stakeholders. For example, there are six States where there is a dispute between the Waqf [boards] and the State governments. Similarly, there are disputes over 123 properties, between the Waqf boards and the Union government,” Mr. Pal told reporters after the panel’s meeting on Wednesday.

The Lok Sabha had constituted the committee on August 8 and asked to submit its report on the last day of the first week of the Winter session, which is on Friday.

Opposition parties have stridently criticised the amendments proposed by the bill in the existing Waqf Act, alleging they violate the religious rights of Muslims. The ruling BJP has asserted that the amendments will bring transparency in the functioning of the waqf boards and make them accountable.

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day amid Oppn. uproar

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Thursday amid Opposition protests over the violence in Sambhal and the Adani issue. Opposition members were in the Well of the House raising slogans demanding action against the perpetrators of the violence in Sambhal during a survey being carried out in a mosque.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju flayed the protests saying, “I condemn the attempts by the Congress and its allies in disrupting the House proceedings.” He said the Opposition members were protesting despite the government agreeing to their demands for extension of the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill and debate in the House on certain issues.

However, as the Opposition protests continued TDP member Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was in the chair, adjourned the proceedings for the day.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published - November 28, 2024 02:32 pm IST