New Delhi:
A Joint Parliamentary Committee on Monday approved the WAQF amendment bill, which seeks to make 44 changes in the way in which Muslim beneficial properties are administered in the country, with 14 modifications to the project presented in the Chamber in August last year . In total, 66 (23 by parliamentarians of the BJP ruler and 44 of opposition members) had been proposed to the Committee led by the BJP parliamentarian Jagadambika Pal.
However, the changes proposed by the opposition were rejected after the members of the committee voted according to the partisan lines; The JPC has 16 BJP deputies or allied parties and only 10 of the opposition.
The vote to confirm the acceptance of the 14 changes will be carried out on January 29 and the final report will be presented before January 31, sources told NDTV. Originally the committee had been asked to submit the report before November 29, but that deadline was extended until February 13, the last day of the budget session.
Read | Rules on non -Muslim members among the 14 proposed changes
“… 44 amendments were discussed. In detailed discussions (distributed) for six months, we seek amendments of all members. This was our final meeting … 14 were accepted by the committee by majority (vote). The opposition also suggested amendments … each one was subjected to a vote.
#LOOK | After the CPM meeting on the WAQF (amendment) bill of 2024, its president, the deputy of the BJP, Jagdambika Pal, says: “… 44 amendments were discussed. After detailed discussions over 6 months, we are looking for amendments from all members. pic.twitter.com/lecfxr8enp
– Ain (@ani) January 27, 2025
The committee created to study the amendments has had almost three dozen hearings, but many ended in chaos after opposition parliamentarians accused the president of partiality towards the ruling party.
Sarangi appears, of the BJP, referred to those statements this afternoon when he told the news agency Ani that Mr. Pal “tried to listen to everyone and gave enough time for everyone to present amendments …”
#LOOK | After the CPM meeting on the WAQF (amendment) bill of 2024, one of its members, the BJP parliamentarian, appears Sarangi, said: “The CPM on the WAQF bill (amendment) of 2024 was held Today in a very democratic way. pic.twitter.com/e6jmer0y7q
– Ain (@ani) January 27, 2025
Last week, opposition parliamentarians wrote to the president of Lok Sabha, Om Birla, to express their concerns, saying that Pal was trying to “promote” the WAQF amendment bill, with one eye on the elections of 5 February in Delhi.
The appeal occurred after 10 opposition parliamentarians were suspended; They and their colleagues complained that they were not given time to study the suggested changes.
Read | “Ensure fair procedures”: suspended parliamentarians from the WAQF panel to the president
Among the suspended parliamentarians were Kalyan Banerjee, of the Trinamool Congress, and the chief of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Asaduddin Owaisi, who are critical fierce of the WAQF amendment bill.
In October, for example, Banerjee had a ‘hulk’ moment, breaking a glass bottle on the table and throwing it to Pal. He later explained his actions, saying that another BJP deputy, the former judge of the Superior Court of Calcuta, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, verbally abused his family and caused that strong reaction.
Read | The deputy of Trinamool explains the moment of ‘Hulk’ during the WAQF bill meeting
The WAQF amendment bill proposes numerous changes in the way in which the WAQF boards are administered, including the appointment of non -Muslim members and (at least two) women.
In addition, the Central Council of the WAQF must include (if the amendments are approved) Islamic party. faith.
In addition, according to the new rules, the WAQF Council cannot claim land.
NDTV explains | Women, non -Muslims and council cannot claim land: changes in WAQF
Other proposed changes are to limit the donations of Muslims who have practiced their faith for at least five years (a disposition that caused a dispute over the term “practicing Muslim”).
Sources told NDTV that the idea is to empower Muslim women and children who “suffered” under the old law. However, critics, including opposition leaders such as KC Venufopal, of Congress, have said that it constitutes a “direct attack on freedom of religion.”
Read | The opposition points to provisions for non -Muslims in the “draconian” waqf bill
Meanwhile, Owaisi and Kanimozhi of the DMK have argued that it violates multiple sections of the Constitution, including article 15 (the right to practice the religion of their election) and article 30 (the right of minority communities to establish and administer their institutions educational). .
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click the link To get the latest NDTV updates on your chat.
By
