New Delhi: BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who heads the parliamentary committee reviewing the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, criticised committee member Kalyan Banerjee on Monday for making statements ‘outside’. “Being a member of the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee), Kalyan Banerjee should present his views before us rather than speaking outside,” Pal told ANI.
His comments appeared to reference a viral video of Banerjee, in which the Trinamool Congress leader allegedly claimed in Bengali that “any location where Muslims offer namaz would automatically be considered a Waqf property.” In response to the Trinamool-led West Bengal government’s move to introduce a motion against the Waqf Bill in the state assembly, Pal described it as an “attack” on parliamentary democracy and the “principles of the Constitution.”
Committee gave fair hearing to all: Pal
Pal further said that the committee had taken into account the views and concerns of all members. “Over the past three months, we held 29 meetings and engaged with over 147 delegations. We provided a platform for all organizations within our mandate. If opposition MPs believe more voices need to be heard, boycotting the meetings is not the solution. I have listened to all opposition members, including Sanjay Singh, Kalyan Banerjee and Asaduddin Owaisi,” Pal added.
JPC tenure extended to March
Opposition leaders on the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) had walked out of the meeting on November 27, citing concerns that several state Waqf boards had not yet been heard. They also called for an extension of the committee’s tenure, which was set to end on November 29. In response, the committee’s tenure was extended until the end of the Budget Session, which will begin on January 31 and conclude in March.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes extensive reforms, including digitization, stricter audits, enhanced transparency, and legal provisions to reclaim “illegally-occupied properties.”
