The Joint Parliamentary Committee scrutinizing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has approved all the amendments proposed by the ruling BJP-led NDA members, while rejecting every change suggested by opposition members. This move has sparked controversy, with opposition MPs accusing the committee of subverting the democratic process.
After the meeting, committee chairman Jagdambika Pal addressed the media, stating that the adopted amendments would make the law “better and more effective.” However, opposition members, including TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, criticized the proceedings, calling them a “farcical exercise” where they were not given a fair hearing. Banerjee further accused Pal of acting in a “dictatorial manner” by allowing only the majority’s views to prevail.
Pal defended the process, asserting that the exercise was entirely democratic and that the majority’s decision was in line with the norms. The amendments to the bill focus on several key aspects, one of which is the exclusion of the clause allowing properties to be questioned on the grounds of “Waqf by user.” This clause, which existed in the current law, will be omitted in the new version, provided the properties are being used for religious purposes.
Among the most significant changes accepted by the committee were the amendments to 14 of the bill’s clauses, all of which were proposed by the NDA members. Despite the opposition moving hundreds of amendments to all 44 clauses of the bill, every single one was defeated through a vote.
The contentious nature of the committee’s proceedings and the overwhelming rejection of opposition amendments reflect the deep political divide surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, with both sides sharply differing on the bill’s implications and the way the scrutiny process was conducted.
