New Delhi: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Thursday presented its report on the Waqf Bill in the Rajya Sabha, despite opposition protests. BJP MP Jagadambika Pal, who chairs the JPC, said that the committee had spent six months consulting across India before finalizing the report. It includes 25 amendments across 14 clauses. Pal also addressed concerns from some JPC members who felt their views were ignored, stating that dissenting notes were added to the report’s appendix along with records from relevant stakeholders. The report was tabled in Parliament for further discussion and deliberation.
The bill proposes nearly 40 changes to existing laws, including mandatory verification of property claims by Waqf boards to ensure transparency. It also seeks to amend Sections 9 and 14, altering the structure and functioning of Waqf boards, with an emphasis on women’s representation.
Let’s have a look at what the major stakeholders have to say on this:
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the bill, claiming it would cause social instability and take the country back to the 1980s and 1990s. He warned the government that the bill violates constitutional rights and said that the Muslim community rejects it, vowing to protect Waqf properties.
Trinamool Congress MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Md Nadimul Haque, part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, protested the removal of key parts of their dissent notes. They accused the committee of being biased, ignoring stakeholder views and ignoring opposition members’ submissions.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said that the committee held thorough discussions with all stakeholders. The bill aims to bring transparency and professionalism to Waqf property management, he said. Surya noted that the JPC proceedings were conducted in a transparent and democratic manner.
Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi described the bill as “a blatant disregard for democratic principles” and accused the government of intentionally undermining the core structure of Waqf administration.
Congress leader Naseer Hussain, in a written statement, criticised the government for pushing the legislation forward without considering the concerns of minority communities, stating, “We have witnessed a complete breakdown of democratic procedures.”
