Opposition seeks extension of JPC on Waqf Bill, submits memo to Speaker Birla

NEW DELHI: The Opposition members part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) scrutinising the Waqf Amendment Bill have met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and urged him for a reasonable extension of the panel’s tenure.
The Opposition in a memorandum also lodged a complaint against panel chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, accusing him of bulldozing the proceedings on the crucial matter.
DMK member A Raja told reporters after meeting the Speaker that the due processes are not followed by the chairman. He is hurrying up, bulldozing the proceedings.
“It must be noted that the Waqf Amendment Bill is an expansive legislation that involves several major changes to the existing law. These changes will affect a large section of India’s population. Therefore, a mere three months’ time to finalise the report is not only inadequate but may also result in improper recommendations. For proper consultation and deliberation, the committee’s tenure must be extended by a reasonable time,” read the letter.
Among the members who met the Speaker are DMK leaders Raja and M Abdulla, Congress members Syed Naseer Hussain, Mohammed Jawed and Imran Masood, Trinamool members Kalyan Banerjee and M Nadimul Haque, AAP member Sanjay Singh, SP member Mohibbullah and AIMIM member Asaduddin Owaisi.
They said that the parliamentary panel had held 25 sittings and included evidence by “various irrelevant organisations” while presentations by various state governments such as Bihar, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were pending.
The government has listed the Waqf Amendment Bill in its legislative agenda for the Winter Session of Parliament, pending a report from the parliamentary panel.
The Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995 to ensure more accountability and transparency in the functioning of Waqf Boards and also has provisions for mandatory inclusion of women in these bodies.