"No discussions held": UBT Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant after Waqf JPC passes 14 amendments

New Delhi [India], January 27 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant on Monday alleged that no discussions were held on the amendments to the Waqf Amendment Bill, as the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has approved 14 amendments despite strong objections from Opposition parties.
Following the JPC meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Sawant told ANI, "...Clause by clause discussions were supposed to be held. But it was not done at all. They only held voting on the Amendments...It was not discussed...They say that they will move the final draft report on January 29. We will read it and see...Democracy is being murdered in Amrit Varsh."
Meanwhile, JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal stated that the amendments were accepted based on a majority vote, with 16 members supporting the changes and 10 opposing them.
"44 amendments were discussed clause by clause. After detailed discussions over 6 months, we sought amendments from all members. This was our final meeting... So, 14 amendments have been accepted by the committee based on a majority. Opposition too had suggested amendments. We moved every one of those amendments & it was put to vote but 10 votes were supporting theirs (suggested amendments) and 16 votes opposing it," the JPC Chairperson said.
The Waqf Amendment bill aims to overhaul the Waqf Act of 1995, which governs the management of Waqf properties in India. The bill has been a subject of controversy, with opposition parties alleging that it undermines the rights of Muslims and the federal structure of India.
However, BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said that there was a clause-by-clause discussion in the meeting.
"Discussion took place on all clauses, and those who opposed did so, while those who supported also voiced their opinion. It is unfortunate that even on the clauses that were crucial for improving this bill, opposition was raised," he said.
Meanwhile, the Opposition party members criticised the JPC's decision, alleging that they were not allowed to speak during the meeting and that the amendments were pushed through without proper discussion. The final draft report of the JPC is expected to be released on January 29.
Trinamool Congress Kalyan Banerjee said that Jagdambika Pal has destroyed democracy.
"Today, they did whatever they had fixed. They didn't allow us to speak. No rules or procedures have been followed. Initially, we had asked for documents, representations and comments. All those things have not been supplied to us. They started clause-by clause discussion. We said, first let's discuss. Jagdambika Pal did not allow discussion at all. He then brought in the Amendment Motion. We were not all allowed to speak in the Amendment Motion. He moved, counted and declared. All Amendments have been passed. Our Amendments have been rejected and theirs have been allowed. This was a farce proceeding. This is a black day of democracy...Jagdambika Pal is the greatest blacklister of democracy. He is a man who has destroyed democracy," he said.
The major changes in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill approved by the JPC are that the bill originally gave the authority to the District Collector to determine whether a property is a Waqf property. However, the committee recommended a change, stating that instead of the Collector, a designated officer from the state government will make this decision.
The bill had a provision requiring at least two non-Muslim members in the State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council. This provision has now been modified, meaning that two of the nominated members must be non-Muslim.