A heated meeting of the parliamentary panel on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, on Friday led to the suspension of ten opposition members, who accused Chairman Jagdambika Pal of rushing the proceedings. The acrimonious meeting highlighted political rifts relating to the draft bills and opposition politicians, who, while describing the criticisms of the drafting process, expressed concern over the potential result of the proposed bills.
“Waqf Amendment Bill” attracted attention because the committee convened to discuss the draft legislation. The suspension followed disruption by the members of the opposition, including Kalyan Banerjee, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Naseer Hussain. The motion, moved by BJP’s Nishikant Dubey, passed with majority support.
Waqf Amendment Bill Protests: Opposition Members Explain Their Point of View
In the meeting, the members of the opposition explained the view that they did not have the time to review the 1995 Act amendments to the waqf statute 1995 before the next meeting. It is implemented under the supervision of Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the legislation laid out in the Lok Sabha on 8 August 2024, aims to address the procedural bottlenecks and enhance the management of waqf properties.
The discussion escalated until at that point a delegation featuring Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (chief of Kashmir religion) expressed their woes. On behalf of Muttahida Majlis-E-Ulema (MMU), Farooq’s party has strongly resisted some parts of the Waqf Amendment Bill resulting from this anti-desirable consequence leading to the apprehension of the good future of the management of waqf property as well as the unsatisfactory situation of the plight of the poor ulama (Muslims).
The session was briefly adjourned due to heated arguments. Trinamool Congress [TC] chief Kalyan Banerjee and Congress [GO] member Naseer Hussain walked out, describing the proceedings as a “farce. Banerjee accused the committee’s actions of being political and claimed that the BJP was moving the bill at a rapid pace in the run-up to the Delhi elections.
BJP member Aparajita Sarangi lashed out at opposition members’ actions calling it “disgusting” and accusing members of using unbefitting language.
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The committee plans to get back together on 27 January with a reciprocal clause-by-clause review of the proposed changes although the Parliamentary Opposition has requested a deferral in order to have time to properly consider the matter.
The Waqf Amendment Bill (WAB) and the prospective impact on freedom and control of waqf assets have effectively become a political time bomb both the ruling and opposition parties are bickering as if it is a fight with tooth and nail.
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