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JPC On Waqf Adopts Draft Report And Amended Bill, Opposition Submits Dissent Note

New Delhi [India], January 29: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill has adopted the draft report and the revised amended bill. The report will be presented to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30. However, opposition leaders have submitted dissent notes in response to the report.

JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal shared, “Today, we have adopted the report and the amended revised bill. For the first time, we have included a section to ensure that the benefits of Waqf go to marginalized communities, women, the poor, and orphans. Tomorrow, we will present the report to the Speaker.”

He further explained that out of the 44 clauses, amendments were proposed to 14 clauses, which were then adopted through a majority vote.

BJP MP Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agrawal criticized the opposition, saying, “The report on the Waqf Amendment Bill was adopted with a 14-11 vote. Various parties have submitted their dissent notes. It is in the opposition’s DNA to oppose government initiatives.”

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya emphasized that the government’s objective was to introduce transparency and accountability in Waqf property management and prevent misuse by vested interests. “These amendments address those goals, ensuring that the Waqf Board operates with much-needed transparency,” he said.

However, the JPC’s actions have sparked criticism from opposition leaders. AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi stated that he would oppose the bill when it is discussed in Parliament. “We received a 655-page draft report last night, and it’s impossible to go through such a lengthy report in such a short time. Despite this, we submitted our dissent note,” he said. “This bill is not in favor of Waqf. The BJP has brought this bill with the intent to harm the Waqf Board and seize Muslim mosques.”

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee also submitted his dissent note, expressing concerns over the report’s content. “We received the draft report late in the evening, and the observations and recommendations in the report are flawed. The voices of victims have been ignored, and the proceedings have become a mockery,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant argued that the amendments violate the Constitution. “Until now, Waqf members were elected, but now they will be nominated by the central government. If the government can change laws for the Election Commission, why not for Waqf?” he questioned.

DMK MP A Raja criticized the hasty adoption of the draft report. “We received the report late last night, making it impossible to review it properly,” he said.

Congress MP Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain expressed dissatisfaction with the exclusion of many objections and suggestions. “The government has made the report in its favor, and the amendments are unconstitutional. They harm the rights of minorities, especially Muslims,” he stated.

The JPC’s report will now be presented in Parliament, where it is expected to face further scrutiny and debate.

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