New Delhi:
In a dramatic turn of events, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, was marred by heated arguments and ruckus, leading to the suspension of 10 opposition MPs, including Asaduddin Owaisi and A Raja. The meeting, which was already tense, saw opposition members accusing the ruling BJP of rushing the bill through, particularly in the run-up to the Delhi elections.
The JPC hearing began on a stormy note, with opposition MPs protesting that they were not given sufficient time to study the proposed changes to the Waqf laws. The proceedings were further delayed when Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the religious head of Kashmir, expressed his concerns over the government’s interference in Waqf matters. Farooq emphasized that the proposed changes would disempower Muslims and urged the government to refrain from interfering in Waqf affairs, especially in Muslim-majority states like Jammu and Kashmir.
The suspensions occurred after opposition MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee, Asaduddin Owaisi, and A Raja, stormed out of the meeting, labeling the proceedings a “farce.” The BJP’s Nishikant Dubey criticized the opposition’s behavior, stating it was against parliamentary practice and an attempt to suppress the majority’s voice.
The Waqf Amendment Bill proposes significant and contentious changes to the administration of Waqf boards. These include the nomination of non-Muslim and at least two women members to the boards, as well as the inclusion of a union minister, three MPs, two ex-judges, and four people of national repute in the central Waqf Council, none of whom need to be from the Islamic faith. The bill also limits donations from Muslims who have been practicing their faith for at least five years, a provision that has sparked considerable controversy.
Critics, including opposition leaders like KC Venugopal and Asaduddin Owaisi, argue that these changes constitute a direct attack on freedom of religion and violate multiple sections of the Constitution, including Article 15 and Article 30. The opposition has also raised concerns about the bill’s potential to empower the government to interfere in religious matters, which they see as a threat to the autonomy of Muslim institutions.
The JPC, which has been studying the proposed changes since August last year, has seen previous incidents of mudslinging and physical brawls. The committee’s report submission deadline has been extended to the final day of Parliament’s Budget Session, February 13, following requests from both the opposition and the BJP.
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