Opposition INDIA Bloc’s Proposals Rejected
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 accepted all the amendments introduced by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA bloc while rejecting all the amendments moved by the opposition INDIA bloc. The voting on the amendments was in favor of the ruling bloc’s proposals with a majority of 10:16.
Important Amendments to the Waqf Bill
Probably, one of the significant changes to the bill is that it has struck off the ‘Waqf by user’ provision, under which certain Waqf properties had been challenged based on the long-standing usage. Under this new version of the law, the Waqf properties can no longer be questioned on such a basis but are required to be used for religious purposes for their status.
Other amendments include the appointment of state government officials and district magistrates to specific roles within the Waqf system, as well as an increase in the number of members on Waqf tribunals from two to three.
Controversy and Opposition Criticism
Post-JPC meeting, JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal, who is a senior BJP MP, defended the amendments saying they will make the law better and effective. But, opposition MPs like TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee accused Pal of “subverting” the process, describing the exercise as “farcical”. Banerjee criticised the way the meeting was conducted alleging that the opposition was not heard and accused Pal of acting in a dictatorial manner.
Responding to these allegations, Jagdambika Pal dismissed the allegations by stating that the process was democratic and majoritarian. He even further clarified that the NDA bloc amendments were adopted for 14 clauses of the Bill. In contrast, hundreds of amendments moved by opposition members across all 44 clauses were defeated by vote .
Long and Elaborate Discussions on the Bill
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi supported the process followed by the committee by saying that every voice had been heard under the chairmanship of the committee. Sarangi stated that the discussion on the bill involved 34 sittings, amounting to almost 108 hours, and more than 284 stakeholders had been consulted.
Sarangi also questioned the INDIA bloc about causing a disruption at the meeting as she said that the Kalyan Banerjee-led opposition had created ruckus. She said that the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is based on very comprehensive and well-thought discussions.