JPC Report on Waqf Amendment Bill to be Presented in Lok Sabha Today
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Synopsis
The Joint Parliamentary Committee's report on the Waqf Amendment Bill is scheduled for presentation in the Lok Sabha today. The Bill aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, amid significant controversy regarding its implications for the Muslim community's rights.
Key Takeaways
- JPC report to be tabled in Lok Sabha.
- The Waqf Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995.
- 14 amendments proposed by NDA members were accepted.
- The Opposition claims the Bill undermines Muslim rights.
- Debate continues over the Bill's implications for Waqf board autonomy.
New Delhi, Feb 3 (NationPress) The report from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) that reviewed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is set to be presented in the Lok Sabha today.
A bulletin from the Lok Sabha Secretariat states that Committee Chairman Jagdambika Pal and member Sanjay Jaiswal will introduce the report in the House.
The committee had previously submitted the report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday.
The Waqf Amendment Bill seeks to reform the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the management of Waqf properties in India.
This report, accepted by the committee on Wednesday, contains amendments proposed by members of the ruling NDA coalition. The documentation of evidence presented to the Joint Committee regarding the Bill will also be included.
The Bill has sparked considerable debate, with opposition parties claiming that it compromises the rights of the Muslim community and poses a threat to India's federal structure.
On Wednesday, the JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill sanctioned the draft, which incorporates 14 amendments suggested by members of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
The JPC Chairperson confirmed that the amendments were approved by a majority vote, with 16 members in favor and 10 against.
“We discussed a total of 44 amendments clause by clause. Following six months of thorough discussions, we invited amendments from all members. This was our final assembly. The committee accepted 14 amendments based on majority support. Although the Opposition suggested amendments, these were not accepted, with 10 votes for and 16 votes against,” Pal stated to reporters.
The Opposition claims the ruling party is leveraging the Bill to diminish the independence of Waqf boards and encroach upon the constitutional rights of the Muslim community.
Opposition MPs have characterized the amendments as an effort to dominate the management of Waqf properties and dismantle the boards.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari criticized the government's approach to the Bill, stating that amendments proposed by the Opposition were dismissed.
"Even before the Waqf Bill is introduced, there is a disturbance. Of the 44 proposed amendments, not a single one from the Opposition was accepted," Tiwari remarked.
"What was the purpose of establishing the JPC if they ignored all our recommendations? They have turned down every Opposition amendment while approving those from the ruling party," he told IANS.
"It appears the government is intent on advancing its agenda. Once the Bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha, we will review it and respond appropriately," he concluded.
