NDA vs opposition showdown marks tabling of Waqf bill report in Parliament
New Delhi
Opposition MPs claimed that portions of dissent notes were removed from the report on the Waqf bill and resorted to sloganeering in the Rajya Sabha.
Bill aims to streamline registration of Waqf properties
While 14 amendments proposed by the ruling NDA members were approved, the changes suggested by the opposition MPs were rejected
Revised bill contains 14 amendments proposed by NDA MPs
The report of the joint committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was tabled and subsequently accepted by the Rajya Sabha amid massive protests by the opposition.
Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar briefly adjourned the proceedings.
As soon as the report on the Bill, which aims to streamline registration of Waqf properties, was tabled by Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni, opposition MPs claimed that portions of dissent notes were removed and resorted to sloganeering.
The uproar continued as Dhankhar tried to read out a message from the President as proceedings resumed. The opposition eventually staged a walkout of the Rajya Sabha during the discussion on the report.
Leader of Opposition and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the opposition would not accept "fake reports" that "bulldoze our views".
He said that the report be sent back to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and presented again.
"In the JPC report, many members have their dissent report. It is not right to remove those notes and bulldoze our views. This is anti-democracy... We will never accept such fake reports."
If the report does not have dissenting views, it should be sent back and presented again," Kharge said.
In a show of unity among the opposition, several INDIA bloc MPs also backed Kharge.
Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant claimed that clause-by-clause discussions were never held in the meetings of the JPC. "Because of this, we gave a dissent note. They have removed the dissent note we gave," he said.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the dissent notes were attached in the appendix of the report and accused the opposition of misleading the House.
"There is no deletion or removal from the report... The members of the Opposition are creating an unnecessary issue," he said.
Hitting out at the opposition, Union Minister and BJP president JP Nadda said "some were trying to fight the Indian state" - a seeming reference to Rahul Gandhi's controversial remark. Last year, Rahul Gandhi had said that the Congress was not only fighting the BJP and the RSS, but the "Indian state" as well.
WHAT IS THE WAQF BILL?
The legislation proposes a complete overhaul of the governance of Waqf boards, which oversee properties donated for religious and charitable purposes by the Muslim community.
Among the key provisions of the bill are the inclusion of at least two non-Muslim members on state Waqf boards and arbitration by a government official to decide whether a property is Waqf property or not.
The final report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was presented to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30 after months-long deliberations.
The amended revised bill was adopted by the panel on January 29.
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Waqf bill report Parliament
Union Home Minister Amit Shah
India Today News Desk
India Today News Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 13, 2025 14:40 IST
Written By: Abhishek De
In Short
Bill aims to streamline registration of Waqf properties
Opposition claims dissent notes were removed from report
Revised bill contains 14 amendments proposed by NDA MPs
Both houses of Parliament witnessed a massive showdown between the NDA and opposition MPs over the report of the joint committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was tabled on Thursday. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed protests by the opposition, with MPs claiming that portions of dissent notes were removed from the final report.
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In the Lok Sabha, the report on the Bill, which aims to streamline registration of Waqf properties, was tabled by Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chairperson and BJP MP Jagadambika Pal amid chants of 'Jai Shri Ram'.
However, the proceedings were marred by opposition protests as MPs trooped to the Well of the House and raised slogans.
In a bid to pacify the protesting MPs, Home Minister Amit Shah said the government had no objection if the dissent notes were added.
"Some opposition members have objected, stating that their disputes have not been fully included. On behalf of my party, I request that the opposition's disputes be appropriately incorporated into the parliamentary procedure. My party has no objection to this," Shah said.
Ends
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