New Delhi: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to meet tomorrow at 10am to adopt its draft report, but opposition members have already signalled their intention to submit notes of dissent. The contentious meeting, which is expected to finalise the report, has sparked criticism from opposition parties who argue that the committee is rushing through the process without giving them sufficient time to review the 655-page document.
“The parliamentary committee on Waqf Bill has been reduced to a farce. We were told that the draft report of the committee and its bill will be discussed tomorrow at 10am. It is a 655-page report which has been sent to us just now,” DMK leader A Raja said.
JPC will deliberate on the draft report before adoption
The JPC, chaired by BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, will deliberate on the draft report before adoption. However, opposition leaders have raised concerns about the short notice, claiming they were not given adequate time to study the report and prepare their responses. DMK leader A Raja, a member of the committee, labelled the process a “farcical exercise” and said, “The draft report has been sent to us just now, making it impossible for us to go through it thoroughly, offer comments, and submit dissent notes.”
Congress member Mohammed Jawed also accused the ruling BJP of trying to bypass opposition voices, pushing its agenda to control waqf properties. “This is not just about land; it’s about our rights, our identity, and our community’s future,” Jawed stated.
Amendments proposed by NDA members adopted
Earlier on Monday, the JPC adopted all amendments proposed by the ruling NDA members and negated every change moved by opposition members. Pal told reporters after the meeting that amendments adopted by the committee will make the law better and more effective. “It was a farcical exercise. We were not heard. Pal has acted in a dictatorial manner,” TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee told reporters.
Pal rejected Banerjee’s charge, calling the entire exercise democratic. “The majority view prevailed,” he said. The amendments moved by the NDA members in 14 of the Bill’s clauses were accepted. “Opposition members moved hundreds of amendments in all 44 clauses and all of them were defeated by vote,” he added.
