The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, accepted all amendments suggested by the ruling BJP-led NDA members on Monday and dismissed all changes put forth by opposition members during a detailed clause-by-clause discussion.
The amendments involved modifications to 14 clauses
BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who chaired the Parliamentary committee, stated that the NDA members’ amendments in 14 clauses of the Bill have been approved.
Certain amendments also permit state government officials, in addition to district magistrates, to be designated for specific positions and raise the number of Waqf tribunal members from two to three.
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During the clause-by-clause voting today, 16 MPs from the governing party supported the amendments, whereas 10 members of the opposition opposed them. The amendments proposed by the opposition, covering all 44 clauses of the Bill, were rejected by the same 10:16 majority.
The JPC stated that the draft report will be distributed by January 28 and will subsequently be officially approved on January 29.
Opposition MPs condemned the meeting’s proceedings and charged Pal with “undermining” the democratic process.
“It was a ridiculous excercise. Our voices went unnoticed. Pal has behaved in a tyrannical way,” TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee informed the press.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was presented in the Lok Sabha on August 8 by Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju. Originally anticipated to be presented in the Winter Session, it was sent to the JPC for a thorough review.
