A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee including 21 Lok Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs has been constituted to look into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024
Our Bureau
New Delhi
As the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was tabled in the Lok Sabha by the Union government on Thursday, the Congress denounced the bill as “draconian” and an “attack on the Constitution,” adding that “this is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution.”
Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, NCP, Trinamool Congress and AIMIM strongly opposed the introduction of the bill, saying its provisions were against federalism and the constitutional provisions. While some members demanded the withdrawal of the bill, many suggested that should be sent to a standing committee.
Congress leader KC Venugopal, who had previously submitted a notice to oppose the Bill, said people taught the BJP a lesson for its divisive politics but it was continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Haryana and Maharashtra.
“We are Hindus but at the same time, we respect the faith of other religions. This bill is specialized for the Maharashtra and Haryana elections. You do not understand that last time the people of India clearly taught you a lesson. This is an attack on the federal system,” Venugopal said.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that religious matters are very sensitive, adding that the opposition demanded to send this bill to a JPC.
“Religious matters are very sensitive. We were always asking the government to not make decisions in a hurry. But it is now very clear that they do not intend to work for anyone’s welfare and focus only on politics, and appeasement, and to save themselves in the upcoming elections in Maharashtra and Haryana… We demanded to send this bill to a JPC,” Gogoi said.
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MP Hanuman Beniwal said that they demand a Standing Committee or JPC.
“The government wants to get it passed by introducing it in the Parliament. The Opposition registered its strong opposition. We said that this would hurt public sentiments. Waqf has been formed under Constitutional rights, you can’t overrule it…We demanded a Standing Committee or JPC. Due to the objection of Opposition, NDA sent it to JPC. This happened due to our objection, otherwise they would have passed it today,” Beniwal said.
DMK MP Kanimozhi said that it is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. “It is a direct violation of Article 30 which deals with minorities to administer their institutions. This bill targets a particular religious group,” Kanimozhi said.
Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad said that he doesn’t want politics over Hindu-Muslim, there should be issue-based politics
On Friday, a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee including 21 Lok Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs has been constituted to look into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday proposed the names of 21 Lok Sabha MPs and 10 Rajya Sabha MPs in the Parliament for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to look into the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Notably, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress MP Imran Masood have also been included in the committee. After that, the proposal was passed by the House.
Meanwhile, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan criticized the Congress party and INDI bloc for opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill as he dubbed it as “historic”. Kesavan said that this will empower those belonging to the Muslim community.
“Why has the landmark legislation with such positive provisions made the Congress and INDI alliance so nervous and rattled? Why is the Congress and INDI alliance against rendering justice to our Muslim brothers and sisters whose voices have been crushed? Why are they trying to mislead the Muslim community? Why is the INDI Alliance trying to play the politics of political appeasement?” Kesavan asked.
“This a historic bill and people from all sections have welcomed it. This will empower our brothers and sisters of the Muslim community,” he said while speaking to ANI on Friday.
Congress MP K Suresh alleged that the amendments to the Waqf Act were brought because the government wanted to take over the Waqf properties and called it “anti-constitutional.”
“The properties of the Waqf Board are their properties. The government wants to take over the Waqf properties. That is why the Government of India is bringing this bill. Its purpose is to attack minorities, especially Muslim minorities. It’s an anti-constitutional Bill,” K Suresh said.
