– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: The opposition INDIA alliance strongly condemned the Waqf Bill and the JPC report tabled in Parliament on Thursday. They called it “biased” and “one-sided.” They also accused Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju of misleading the House.
Opposition leaders criticized the bill’s intent and claimed their views were ignored. Some also raised concerns about the government’s growing control over places of worship.
Congress MP and JPC member Syed Naseer Hussain expressed serious concerns in the Rajya Sabha. He pointed out that dissent notes were deleted and procedural lapses occurred in the JPC report.
His remarks led to a heated debate as opposition MPs rejected the JPC’s findings. Hussain accused Rijiju of misleading the House. He claimed parts of his dissent note were removed.
“I want to officially record my dissent. The introduction, covering letter, and conclusion of my note were deleted,” Hussain stated.
He also criticized the JPC’s approach. He said committee members were denied access to crucial materials, such as meeting minutes, witness responses, and presentations. Non-stakeholders were involved in discussions.
“Non-stakeholders were called, meeting minutes were not shared, and witness responses were withheld. Presentations were also not made available,” he said.
He added that JPC members failed to communicate properly. There was no meaningful discussion. Key concerns about the bill were ignored. The House chairman repeatedly interrupted his speech.
The opposition completely rejected the bill. They said dissenting views were not considered. Important witnesses, like former Waqf Board chairpersons, were not heard. They called the process deeply flawed and biased toward the ruling party.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari accused the JPC of acting as a government tool. He highlighted procedural flaws.
“The ruling party’s views were fully accepted, but opposition suggestions were ignored and this report promotes the government’s agenda,” Tiwari said.
DMK MP M M Mohamed Abdullah criticized the rushed process.
“The process was hurried without following rules. None of our amendments were accepted. Even parts of our dissent notes were removed. This is dangerous. Soon, they will target other religious properties like Gurudwaras,” Abdullah said.
JMM leader Mahua Maji warned about broader implications.
“The government is targeting Waqf land now. Tomorrow, other religious properties could be next. Christian institutions are also at risk. With privatization increasing, the rich are getting richer while the poor suffer. We strongly oppose this bill,” she said.
The JPC report was presented by BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni, triggering protests in the Rajya Sabha.
Opposition MPs continued protesting as Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar tried to read a message from the President. At the same time, JPC Chairperson and BJP MP Jagadambika Pal submitted the report in the Lok Sabha. This led to interruptions in both Houses.
After the JPC report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was presented, a fierce clash erupted between the opposition and NDA MPs. This led to the adjournment of proceedings.
The debate over this Bill is set to escalate in the coming days after the chaos in Parliament today.
