The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday amid strong protests from the Opposition. As tensions escalated, the House was briefly adjourned before resuming discussions on the contentious bill.
Kharge Calls Report ‘Unconstitutional’ And Demands Withdrawal
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the JPC report, calling it “unconstitutional” and “fake.” He alleged that multiple members had submitted dissent notes, but the majority view was forced through without fair consideration.
“The JPC report had several dissenting views, but they were bulldozed. This is an anti-democratic act,” Kharge stated, demanding that the report be withdrawn and reviewed again.
He expressed his discontent and added, “The dissenting views were deleted, and the report is being tabled. The House will never accept this fake report.”
Nadda Condemns Opposition’s Conduct
Leader of the House J.P. Nadda rebuked the Opposition for disrupting parliamentary proceedings.
“Debate and disagreement are essential in a democracy, but disrupting the House, even during the President’s message, is highly irresponsible,” he stated.
Kiren Rijiju: ‘No Section of the Report Was Removed’
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the Opposition’s claims, accusing them of misleading the issue.
“Some concerns raised by the Opposition were verified, and I found that no section of the report was removed. Everything has been tabled before the House transparently,” Rijiju asserted.
He further pointed out that the Opposition had actively participated in the preparation of the report over the past six months.
JPC Chairman Defends Process
JPC Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal defended the committee’s methodology, emphasizing that dissenting members were invited to submit their notes. These notes, along with stakeholder feedback, were included in the final report.
However, Trinamool Congress MPs Kalyan Banerjee and Md Nadimul Haque alleged that key portions of their dissent notes had been removed from the final document.
Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024: Key Reforms
The Waqf Act of 1995, introduced to regulate Waqf properties, has long faced criticism for mismanagement, corruption, and illegal encroachments.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to introduce significant reforms, including:
•Digitization of Waqf records to improve transparency
•Stricter auditing mechanisms to prevent mismanagement
•Enhanced legal provisions for reclaiming illegally occupied Waqf properties
•Stronger oversight measures to curb corruption and irregularities
Despite the government’s claims of improving governance, the Opposition remains firm in its objections, further fueling political tensions over the bill.