Bhubaneswar, November 30: BJP Member of Parliament and Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) member on the Waqf Amendment Bill, Aparajita Sarangi, accused opposition leaders of consistently disrupting discussions during JPC meetings and pushing for delays in the presentation of the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Sarangi stated that every time the JPC convened to discuss the bill, opposition leaders created chaos and sought extensions on the timeline for presenting the report.
"The opposition has been avoiding any meaningful debate on the proposed 44 amendments," Sarangi said. "Instead of engaging in discussions, they have chosen to create a ruckus. The government has valid reasons for each amendment, but the opposition’s sole focus seems to be on securing more time and delaying the process. In fact, during the last meeting, opposition members staged walkouts three times. They simply wanted an extension on the presentation date."
Sarangi explained that the Chairman of the JPC had then decided to extend the deadline for the presentation of the report to the last day of the Budget Session in 2025. "A resolution was passed stating that the JPC report would be submitted to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and placed before the House by the last day of the Budget Session in 2025," she added.
Earlier, the Lok Sabha adopted a motion moved by Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the JPC, to extend the deadline for presenting the report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Opposition members had been requesting an extension of the committee’s tenure. The motion, passed amid some disruptions in the House, extended the presentation deadline to the last day of the Budget Session in 2025.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to bring about significant reforms in the Waqf system, including digitization, stricter audits, enhanced transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
However, the bill has sparked opposition, particularly from the Samajwadi Party (SP). MP Awadhesh Prasad expressed concerns over the bill’s impact on Waqf properties, which, according to him, have historically supported underprivileged communities by providing education, food, and livelihood opportunities. He warned that any interference with Waqf properties would not be tolerated.
"Waqf properties have been a vital source of support for countless poor children, offering them education, food, shelter, and opportunities to earn a livelihood. The BJP's intentions regarding the Waqf system seem questionable, and we will not accept any amendments that harm Waqf properties, which ensure the protection and well-being of millions of Indians," Prasad stated.
The debate around the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to continue as the JPC moves toward its extended deadline for presenting the report in 2025.
