Waqf Bill Sparks Uproar In Parliament: Opposition Accuses Government of Censorship, Rijiju Hits Back

Parliament witnessed a major uproar as Opposition MPs claimed that portions of their dissent notes were removed from the JPC’s report on the Waqf Amendment Bill, NDTV reported.

Rejecting the accusation, the government asserted that no dissent note was deleted.

It emphasised that the JPC chairman has the discretion to remove sections that cast aspersions on the committee.

A resolution was reached after discussions between Opposition MPs, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

it was decided that the dissent notes of Opposition members would be included in the JPC's draft report in their original form, NDTV reported.

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, stating, "Many members have given their dissent note. Removing them from proceedings and keeping only the majority view is condemnable and anti-democracy."

Countering the Opposition’s claims, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the allegations.

"Don't mislead the House, Opposition parties are making an unnecessary issue, the allegation is false, JPC conducted all proceedings, no rule was violated," he said.

Later speaking to the media, Rijiju said that as per the rule, statements that "amount to casting aspersions" on the committee can be deleted or removed by the chairman.

Following the Opposition’s walkout in Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House JP Nadda accused them of avoiding a discussion and instead engaging in scoring political points.

"The Parliamentary Affairs Minister has said nothing has been deleted. The Opposition has acted very irresponsibly. This is the politics of appeasement. The biggest question in question hour is that some people are trying to fight against the Indian State," he said.

Earlier, tensions flared in Rajya Sabha when three MPs—Trinamool’s Samirul Islam and Nadimul Haque, along with DMK’s MM Abdulla—stormed into the Well of the House.

Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has warned them of action.

During the heated exchange, an Opposition MP challenged Rijiju’s remarks, asking, "How does the minister know?".

This provoked strong reactions from the treasury benches, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calling the remark "outrageous."

Rijiju added that besides being the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, he is the Minority Affairs Minister and the Waqf legislation is linked to his ministry.

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