Waqf JPC Chairman Says Report Ready Even As Oppn Pushes For Extension Of Parl Panel

Opposition members plan to meet Speaker Om Birla on November 25, the first day of the Parliament's winter session, to press their case for more time to raise questions and request clarifications.

File photo of joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill Chairman Jagdambika Pal showing a petition that he received after a meeting with local farmers regarding their lands being claimed by the State Waqf Board, in the Hubballi district of Karnataka.

Source : PTI

The chairman of the Joint Committee of Parliament reviewing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, announced on Thursday that the draft report of the panel is complete, despite opposition members requesting an extension of the November 29 deadline for further discussions.

"Our draft report is ready. We will soon give a date for clause by clause discussion on its recommendations," Pal told news agency PTI after a nearly six-hour meeting where the Minority Affairs Ministry presented a detailed explanation of the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act.

Opposition members plan to meet Speaker Om Birla on November 25, the first day of the Parliament's winter session, to press their case for more time to raise questions and request clarifications.

Pal emphasised that the committee had conducted thorough discussions with a wide range of stakeholders and allowed all members to ask questions and receive answers. He suggested that only the final discussions on the draft report remain.

"I hope there will be a consensus," Pal stated, though this seems unlikely given the opposition's continued objections to several provisions of the bill, which they view as part of the BJP-led government's political agenda.

Sources indicated that a brief extension for the committee could still be considered, especially to complete the necessary formalities for the report before it is presented in a meeting.

Oppositions Lashes Out At Jagdambika Pal

Members from the Congress, TMC, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, and AIMIM have lashed out at Jagdambika Pal for his choice of stakeholders, with some even lodging complaints with the Speaker over his handling of the committee's work and accusations of bias toward the government's position.

Dismissing the charges, Jagdambika Pal, a seasoned parliamentarian from the BJP asserted that he has allowed every stakeholder and all opposition MPs to record their views. He also acknowledged the opposition MPs’ right to meet the Speaker, adding that whatever decision Birla makes will be accepted by all.

According to a report by news agency PTI, the Minority Affairs Ministry has appeared before the committee for almost 29 hours over five days, presenting nearly 1,000 slides outlining the ministry's responses and positions, countering the opposition’s claims of insufficient discussions, said committee chairman Jagdambika Pal. He also mentioned that the panel held 25 sittings and conducted visits across various states.

A BJP member of the committee revealed that around 146 organisations appeared before the committee, and over 95.86 lakh suggestions were received through various channels, including emails.

During the meeting of the committee, Pal announced that this would be the final sitting before the draft report was discussed, which led to protests from opposition members, who began shouting slogans.

Some of them reached out to the office of the Speaker demanding intervention. The committee has been directed by the Lok Sabha to submit its report by the last day of the first week of the winter session of Parliament, which starts Monday.

The government has already scheduled the Waqf (Amendment) Bill for consideration and passage in the winter session, pending the report of the joint committee being presented to the Lok Sabha.

Opposition members have previously accused Pal of acting in favour of the government. They had even threatened to disassociate themselves from the work of the committee.

Their primary issue was the panel’s frequent all-day meetings, which they claimed hindered their ability to prepare adequately. They also criticized Pal for allegedly "bulldozing proceedings" and not consulting them on the selection of witnesses.