Gaurav Gogoi, Owaisi, Tejasvi Surya In JPC Formed For Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Rijiju Announces Members

Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024: The Lok Sabha has formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) including MPs like Gaurav Gogoi, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Tejasvi Surya among 21 LS members and 10 Rajya Sabha members to be appointed.

The Lok Sabha has approved the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju proposed the names of 21 Lok Sabha Members and 10 MPs from Rajya Sabha for the JPC to join the committee. Among the Lok Sabha Members appointed to the JPC are Gaurav Gogoi, Imran Masood, Krishna Devarayulu, Mohd Javed, Kalyan Banerjee, Jagadambika Pal, Nishikant Dubey, Tejasvi Surya, Dilip Saikia, A Raja, Dileshwar Kamait, Arvind Sawant, Naresh Maske, Arun Bharti, and Asaduddin Owaisi.

Other members are Aparajita Sarangi, Sanjay Jaiswal, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, DK Aruna, Mohammad Jawed, Maulana Mohibullah Nadvi, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, and Suresh Gopinath.

Ten MPs from Rajya Sabha who will be members of the JPC include Brij Lal, Dr. Medha Vishram Kulkarni, Gulam Ali, Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, Syed Naseer Hussain, Mohammed Nadeem Ul Haq, V Vijayasai Reddy, M. Mohamed Abdulla, Sanjay Singh, and Dr Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade.

The Motion for the names proposed was passed in Rajya Sabha before the upper house adjourned sine die.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, was referred to the JPC after intense debate. The government asserted that the proposed amendments aim to bring necessary reforms to the existing Waqf Act of 1995, while the opposition argued that the Bill targets Muslims and is an attack on the Constitution.

Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024: Oppn Slams Modi Govt's Move, Calls It ‘Direct Attack On Freedom Of Religion’

Congress MP K C Venugopal criticised the Bill, stating, "This is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution. It is a direct attack on freedom of religion." He accused the government of bringing the legislation with an eye on the upcoming assembly elections and claimed it was part of the BJP’s divisive politics.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also opposed the Bill, questioning the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf boards. "The truth is that the BJP has brought this Bill to appease its hardcore supporters," Yadav said, suggesting that the Bill was politically motivated.

NCP MP Supriya Sule voiced her concerns, stating, "We object to this Bill. The government should clarify its intent and the timing. Let's discuss it and then bring a Bill that is fair and just."

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chairperson Asaduddin Owaisi argued that the amendments violate the Constitution’s principles of judicial independence and separation of powers. "You are enemies of Muslims, and this Bill is evidence of that," Owaisi remarked.

In response, Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the Bill, criticising the Congress for failing to reform the Waqf Act. He stated, "Because you couldn't do it, we had to bring these amendments... Some people have captured Waqf boards, and this Bill has been brought to give justice to ordinary Muslims." Rijiju also emphasised that the Bill ensures that Waqf board income will be used exclusively for the welfare of the Muslim community.

The Bill proposes far-reaching changes to the 1995 Act, including the inclusion of Muslim women and non-Muslims in Waqf boards, and the establishment of a separate board of Auqaf for Boharas and Aghakhanis. It also seeks to rename the Act as the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act, 1995.

The JPC will now scrutinise the Bill, with the involvement of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Members.