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Opposition MPs demanded an extension of the committee’s term to discuss the bill in further detail. Meanwhile, the ruling side firmly believed that the panel’s deliberations were extensive and that the committee should prepare its report
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8. (Representational image/Getty)
During the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) meeting for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 on Thursday, a heated argument took place between members of the opposition and the ruling sides regarding the panel’s term.
Opposition MPs demanded an extension of the committee’s term to discuss the bill in further detail. Meanwhile, the ruling side firmly believed that the panel’s deliberations were extensive and that the committee should prepare its report.
The meeting on Thursday witnessed considerable altercation between the two sides, with the opposition alleging that the witnesses summoned before the panel at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party were largely supporters of the bill. The ruling side retorted that a fair hearing was conducted on all sides.
Committee chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal intervened, stating that the panel had held detailed discussions on the bill and that it was appropriate to begin drafting the report before submitting it to Parliament.
When opposition MPs responded that detailed discussions did not occur and that no satisfactory responses came from the government, Pal argued that nearly 29 hours were spent in discussions, with the ministry of minority affairs participating.
Dissatisfied, opposition members have approached the Lok Sabha speaker to seek his intervention and agree to the demand to extend the committee’s time. Sources indicate that opposition MPs will meet Om Birla on Monday.
The bill was referred to the JPC in August, with three months given to submit its report. The committee is expected to submit its report to Parliament by the first week of the upcoming winter session.
The JPC was constituted by the government upon the directions of the Lok Sabha speaker. Any extension to its term would also be granted only after Parliament meets for the winter session.
BJP leaders, including union home minister Amit Shah, have expressed confidence on several platforms that the government will pass the bill in the upcoming winter session.
The committee has held 28 meetings, including on Thursday, and, sources said, has engaged in detailed discussions, not only in Parliament but also on two study tours. During the first study tour, the panel visited states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. During the second leg of the study tour, a disagreement erupted between the two sides, and opposition MPs boycotted the visit to five states, including Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. While ruling side members continued the meeting despite the opposition boycott, the tour was postponed indefinitely after visits to Guwahati and Bhubaneswar.