Some changes in the Waqf Bill to limit donations from Muslims who have been practicing their faith for at least five years triggered a row over the term 'practicing Muslim'.
The BJP claims that the idea is to empower Muslim women and children who "suffered" under the old law. However, critics, including opposition leaders including Congress party's K C Venugopal said it constitutes a "direct attack on freedom of religion".
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and the DMK's Kanimozhi have argued it violates multiple sections of the Constitution, including Article 15 (the right to practice a religion of one's choice) and Article 30 (the right to minority communities to establish and administer their educational institutions).
The Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal on Monday (Jan 27th) cleared the Waqf Amendment Bill - which seeks to make 44 changes to the way Muslim charitable properties are managed in the country.
Overall 66 changes (amendments) had been proposed - 23 by MPs from the ruling BJP and 44 from opposition members. As many as 14 amendments have been accepted.
Sources said changes proposed by the opposition were rejected after committee members voted on party lines; the JPC has 16 MPs from the BJP or allied parties and 10 from the opposition.
Voting to confirm acceptance of the 14 changes will take place January 29, and the final report will be submitted by January 31.
The committee had originally been asked to file the report by November 29 but that deadline was extended to February 13, the final day of the first part of the Budget Session.
"...44 amendments were discussed. In detailed discussions (spread) over six months, we sought amendments from all members.
This was our final meeting... 14 were accepted by the committee on the basis of a majority (vote). Opposition also suggested amendments... each was put to a vote. There were 10 votes supporting theirs (suggested amendments) and 16 votes opposing it..." Mr Pal said.
In November 2024, the Opposition MPs wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla warning that they could 'dissociate' themselves from the joint parliamentary committee studying changes to the Waqf Bill.
The MPs accused the committee Chair, Jagadambika Pal of BJP, of taking decisions regarding meeting dates and summons for consultations - unilaterally.
The proposed changes to the Waqf Bill were tabled in Parliament in August 2024 and, amid furious protests from opposition MPs was referred to to the JPC.
Of course the JPC sittings have been marred by protests and walkouts by the opposition members from time to time.
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