New Delhi [India]: Ahead of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, an internal meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Members of Parliament (MPs) took place at the residence of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi.
Key Attendees
The meeting was attended by prominent members including:
- JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal
- BJP MPs: Dilip Saikia, Aprajita Sarangi, Sanjay Jaiswal, Nishikant Dubey, Arun Bharati, Naresh Mahske, and Sudha Kulkarni.
Focus of the Meeting
The meeting primarily discussed the upcoming Waqf Amendment Bill, which aims to address the challenges of regulating and managing Waqf properties.
- Kiren Rijiju urged NDA MPs to stay united during the JPC meeting, especially after the disruption during the previous session of the Waqf discussion.
The Waqf Amendment Bill Controversy
The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024 has generated significant debate. The bill intends to improve the management of Waqf properties, but it has faced criticism from various quarters, particularly opposition parties. The bill’s provisions have led to 444 proposed amendments submitted by both opposition and ruling party members.
- The previous JPC meeting had witnessed chaos, leading to the suspension of 10 opposition MPs for a day, including high-profile figures like Asaduddin Owaisi and Kalyan Banerjee.
- The proposal for suspensions was put forward by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
Opposition’s Concerns
Opposition parties, including AIMIM, Congress, and AAP, have raised concerns about the bill’s impact on federalism and constitutional provisions.
- Naresh Mhaske, Shiv Sena MP, stated that the opposition is staging “drama” to appeal to Muslim voters, arguing that they are pretending to be champions for minority rights.
Today’s JPC Meeting
The JPC will convene today at 11 am for further discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill, addressing the bill clause by clause. The session is expected to see additional debates and possibly further disruptions, given the high stakes surrounding the bill and the number of proposed amendments.