NEW DELHI, Jan 27: The Joint Parliamentary Committee reviewing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Monday approved all amendments suggested by the ruling BJP-led NDA members while rejecting every proposal put forth by opposition members.
Committee chairman Jagdambika Pal informed reporters following the meeting that the amendments accepted will enhance the law’s effectiveness.
In contrast, opposition MPs criticized the proceedings and accused Pal of undermining the democratic process.
“It was a mock exercise. Our voices were ignored. Pal acted with a dictatorial approach,” remarked TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee to the press.
Pal dismissed these allegations, asserting that the entire process was democratic and that the majority opinion prevailed.
A key amendment proposed by the committee states that existing Waqf properties cannot be challenged on the basis of ‘Waqf by user’, a clause from the current law that will be removed in the revised version, as long as the properties are utilized for religious purposes.
Pal indicated that the NDA members’ amendments in 14 of the Bill’s clauses were approved.
The opposition members proposed hundreds of amendments across all 44 clauses, all of which were defeated in the voting process, he added. (Agencies)
