No Waqf Bill Concerns, Claims Jagdambika Pal
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Jagdambika Pal, Chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, assures the Muslim community that the Bill poses no threat to religious sites, emphasizing its focus on proper management of Waqf properties.
Key Takeaways
- No religious sites will be taken
- Waqf Board is a statutory body
- Bill aims to rectify property misuse
- Consultations with various stakeholders
- Final report expected in Budget Session
New Delhi, Jan 24 (NationPress) Jagdambika Pal, the Chairperson of the joint parliamentary committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, emphasized that there is no need for concern regarding the Bill, assuring that no religious site will be taken from anyone.
He made this statement during an interview with IANS on Friday, prior to engaging with various delegations, including one from Kashmir.
The JPC Chairman reassured the Muslim community about the Bill's intentions. He addressed the circulating rumors that religious sites might be lost, clarifying that the Waqf Board is not a religious entity.
Jagdambika Pal remarked, "The mismanagement of Waqf properties has necessitated the involvement of the JPC committee... It is mistakenly believed that the Waqf Board is a religious institution. The Waqf Board is a statutory entity managing Waqf properties... There have been complaints regarding the misuse and mismanagement of these properties."
He noted that the proposed legislation aims to ensure that these properties are utilized effectively for the benefit of the underprivileged, society, and Muslims. The notion that the new law would confiscate mosques, imambaras, and similar sites is merely a rumor. Zakir Naik suggested sending one crore emails to halt the process; however, that is not how governance operates. We function under a Constitution. The government is constitutionally established and operates with a mandate. If the government proposes an amendment, the JPC is reviewing it, so I can confidently assert that these are just rumors.
The JPC has conducted visits across numerous states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, gathering insights.
He mentioned their inability to visit Jammu and Kashmir, stating, "We couldn’t reach Jammu and Kashmir... Their delegation, led by Mirwaiz, expressed a desire to meet us. Today, we requested him to attend along with other delegations. We will be considering their perspectives before the clause-by-clause discussion on January 27."
On Friday, Kashmir’s chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is scheduled to meet Jagdambika Pal concerning the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 following approval from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Additionally, Jagdambika Pal announced that the JPC has postponed its clause-by-clause discussion on the proposed changes to January 27, moving it from the previously scheduled dates of January 24-25, as per a communiqué from the Lok Sabha secretariat. Speculations are prevalent that these meetings will pave the way for presenting the final report during the upcoming Budget session of Parliament.
Two months after the Lok Sabha passed a resolution to extend the tenure of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the panel is poised to submit its extensive 500-page report in the forthcoming Budget Session. To date, the committee has convened 34 meetings in Delhi, alongside visits to various states where over 24 stakeholders were consulted. More than 20 Waqf boards from across the country have appeared before the committee.
The Centre referred the Bill to the committee for further examination in response to objections from the Opposition. Among the committee’s 21 Lok Sabha and 10 Rajya Sabha members, 13 hail from Opposition parties—nine from the Lower House and four from the Upper House.
