News Brief
JPC Adopts Draft Report, Amended Waqf Bill Amid Opposition Dissent
JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill adopted the draft report and the amended revised bill on Wednesday (29 January).
The report is set to be presented to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday (30 January).
Meanwhile, opposition leaders have submitted dissent notes on the report, expressing their objections.
"Today, we have adopted the report and the amended revised bill. For the first time, we have included a section stating that the benefits of Waqf should go to the marginalized, poor, women, and orphans. Tomorrow, we will present this report to the Speaker," JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal said while speaking to news agency ANI.
"We had 44 clauses before us, out of which amendments were proposed by members in 14 clauses. We conducted a majority vote, and these amendments were then adopted," he added.
BJP MP Dr Radha Mohan Das Agrawal criticised the opposition, accusing them of habitually opposing government initiatives.
"The report on Waqf Amendment Bill has been adopted by 14 to 11 votes. Various parties have submitted their dissent notes. The report will be submitted to the Speaker tomorrow. It is the Opposition's work to oppose the work done by the govt. It is in their DNA to do so," he said.
Opposition leaders strongly criticised the JPC's decision, raising concerns over its implications.
"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.
"This is not in favour of Waqf. I have been saying from the beginning that the BJP has brought this bill against Muslims, according to its ideology, and it is intended to harm the Waqf Board and seize their mosques. When this bill is brought to Parliament, we will oppose it there as well. If Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians can have members of their own religion on their respective boards, then how can you have non-Muslim members on a Muslim Waqf Board?" Owaisi added.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee confirmed submitting a dissent note opposing the report.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said that they have issued a dissent note because the amendments made are against the Constitution.
DMK MP A Raja claimed that the draft report has been adopted in a hurried manner.
"Last night we received the draft report by 9.50 pm, how can the Chairman expect that we will submit the dissent note overnight," he said.
