Hyderabad: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 held its meeting here Saturday with representatives from 42 organisations presenting their views.
There were heated discussions during the meeting and there were instances of sloganeering outside the meeting hall.
JPC Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and D.K. Aruna and Congress MP Imran Masood were among those who attended the meeting.
Jagdambika Pal told media persons that stakeholders from 42 organizations participated in the discussion. The panel held discussions with the chairpersons of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh Waqf Boards.
The meeting in Hyderabad was part of the JPC’s visit to various parts of the country to hold discussions with various stakeholders. The JPC chairman said they held meetings in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The meeting in Ahmedabad was also held on September 28. Gujarat Home Minister, chairman and officials of the Gujarat Waqf Board, Chairman of the Minority Commission, and Islamic scholars attended the meeting.
Its next meetings are scheduled in Chennai and Bengaluru. A meeting will also be held in Delhi.
Jagdambika Pal said they would hold discussions with as many stakeholders as possible and prepare a comprehensive report before the next Parliament session.
Speaking about Saturday’s meeting, Aparajita Sarangi said they received good suggestions that will help them in preparing the report. She said the JPC’s discussions could cover all the major cities.
BJP MP from Telangana D.K. Aruna said they held discussions with stakeholders including advocates and farmers and received a lot of suggestions from them. She said the committee has been formed to listen to the grievances of the stakeholders and based on this the committee will submit the report to the speaker.
Delegations from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and representatives of Sufi places of worship, dargahs and khanqahs presented their respective positions.
A delegation from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) comprising former Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and others and Member of the Legislative Council Amer Ali Khan, made their submissions before the JPC.
Delegates from Kul Hind Anjuman Sufi Sajjadagan, comprising Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani, Sajjada Nashin of the Kazipet Dargah, who is also Chairman of the Telangana State Haj Committee and Khwaja Fareed Ahmed Nizami, Sajjada Nashin of Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin, Delhi, and others also voiced their viewpoints.
The JPC will hold a series of discussions with stakeholders till October 1. It has to submit its report to the Parliament by the last day of the first week of the next Parliament session.
The JPC was formed to study the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 after the Opposition parties had made the demand when the government had introduced the Bill during the previous session.
The Opposition has raised objections to the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, which governs the management of over 6 lakh registered Waqf properties across the country.
Muslim organizations and state Waqf Boards have opposed the proposed amendments, terming them as a retrograde step.
Telangana Waqf Board has opposed the Bill, calling it an attempt to target the Muslim community and Waqf institutions. The Board condemned the divisive agenda being pushed through the controversial Bill.
