JPC Accepts 14 Modifications To Waqf Amendment Bill; Opposition MPs Call Process A 'Farce', Allege BJP Did Not Allow Discussions

The Waqf Amendment Bill was approved by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Monday (27 January), incorporating 14 modifications in the draft that was presented in the House in August 2024.

The JPC discussed a total of 44 amendments proposed in the government's draft bill, for over a period of six months. The committee, headed by the ruling BJP's Jagadambika Pal, had sought amendments from all members.

"This was our final meeting. 14 amendments were accepted by the committee on the basis of a majority (vote). Opposition also suggested amendments... each was put to a vote," Pal told ANI.

"There were 10 votes supporting theirs (suggested amendments) and 16 votes opposing it," he added suggesting that none of the opposition's proposals were accepted.

Sources informed NDTV that the vote to approve the 14 modifications is scheduled for 29 January, with the final report due by 31 January. Initially, the committee was expected to submit the report by 29 November 2024.

However, this deadline was pushed to 13 February, coinciding with the last day of the Budget Session of Parliament. The discussions on the Waqf Amendment Bill were held for 108 hours in 34 sittings.

"As far as NDA MPs are concerned, they had moved 24 proposals. Every proposal moved either by the Opposition or the Ruling Party was put to debate and voting was done by raising of hand," she explained.

The BJP MP alleged that the Opposition MPs also created a ruckus under the leadership of Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee. In response, Banerjee alleged that Pal did not allow any discussions.

"Our Amendments have been rejected and theirs have been allowed. This was a farce proceeding. This is a black day of democracy...Jagdambika Pal is the greatest blacklister of democracy," Banerjee was quoted as saying by ANI.

"All procedures were bypassed and Chairman made minor changes to the Bill and pushed it forward. There was no discussion at all...Entire JPC process is a farce," Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said alleging lack of discussions.

The committee established to examine the amendments has conducted numerous hearings. However, many of these have devolved into disorder as opposition MPs leveled accusations of bias towards the ruling party at the Chair.

A week ago, opposition Members of Parliament penned a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, expressing their apprehensions. They stated that Pal was attempting to hastily push the Waqf Amendment Bill, potentially influenced by the upcoming Delhi election on 5 February.