"Jagdambika Pal should resign; he is an undemocratic person": TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee on Waqf Act

New Delhi [India], April 18 : Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kalyan Banerjee on Friday slammed Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, Jagdambika Pal, over the Waqf Amendment Act and called the latter an "undemocratic person."
"He (Jagdambika Pal) should resign immediately because of his nasty work. He is an undemocratic person. The Waqf Act has been passed solely on the basis of the number of members. I can assure that it will be declared unconstitutional," Banerjee told ANI.
Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, Jagdambika Pal, said that he would resign from his post if it is found out that the report made by the Joint Parliamentary Committee is unconstitutional.
"I have said before, too, that if the report made by us is unconstitutional or interferes with religious freedom, then I will resign," Jagdambika Pal told ANI in Delhi.
He further attacked the Opposition parties and specifically Congress for "misleading" people by claiming that the amendments are an attack on religious freedoms, saying that the law actually helps poor and Pasmanda muslims.
"The parliament has passed the law after more than 12 hours of debate, and after the assent of the President, it has become law of the land. The Supreme Court has the authority to interpret it, and there have been petitions calling the law unconstitutional, arguing that it constitutes an attack on religious freedom or that the land will be taken away. They say outside that it is unconstitutional and an attack on religious freedom, but in the court, they just raise these issues (of Waqf by users, non-muslim members). The Supreme Court heard them, but it did not stop the implementation; instead, it gave the government seven days to reply. There are 73 petitions, and the Supreme Court has asked both sides to appoint five lawyers," the BJP MP said.
He stated that the objections raised by petitioners against the Waqf primarily concern provisions regarding 'Waqf by user' and the inclusion of non-Muslim members, which have already been addressed by the Joint Parliamentary Committee formed to review the bill.
Notably, the Centre had assured the Supreme Court during the hearing held on April 17 that it would not denotify any 'Waqf-by-user' provision and would not include any non-Muslim members in the Board. The assurance comes a day after the top court said it will consider staying those parts of the law.
Several petitions were filed in the apex court challenging the Act, contending that it was discriminatory towards the Muslim community and violated their fundamental rights.
However, certain petitions have also been filed in defence of the act. BJP-led state governments in Rajasthan, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh filed impleadment applications. Additionally, advocates and organisations, including those protecting the rights of tribals and Hindus, also submitted applications in support of the Act.
The Supreme Court's next hearing on this matter will focus on directions and interim orders, with a final resolution expected to follow.