JPC’s Waqf Bill report sparks opposition uproar: ‘Biased, one-sided’

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, triggered a political storm as it was tabled in Parliament on Thursday. BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni presented the report in the Rajya Sabha, while JPC chairman Jagadambika Pal tabled it in the Lok Sabha amid Opposition protests.

Opposition MPs slammed the report, calling it “biased” and “one-sided.” They accused the committee of excluding dissent notes from the final draft. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the allegations, insisting the report followed due process. Chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha, forcing Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to adjourn the House briefly.

When the session resumed, Opposition leaders reiterated their claim that dissenting views were redacted. The government denied the charge, leading to a walkout by Opposition MPs. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the omission of dissent notes, calling it undemocratic. He demanded the report’s withdrawal and fresh review by a committee.

Calling the report “fake,” Kharge urged the government to reintroduce it with dissenting opinions intact. In the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi criticized the committee for allowing only one night to review the 655-page document. He accused the JPC of bypassing clause-by-clause discussions, questioning the chairman’s intent.

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi declared the bill unconstitutional, alleging it violated Articles 14, 15, and 29. He accused the government of attempting to weaken Waqf properties rather than protecting them. Owaisi also claimed that 70% of the dissenting views had been redacted, despite assurances from the Speaker.

Kiren Rijiju refuted claims that the report was unconstitutional. He stated that all dissent notes were included and that committee rules permitted the chairman to remove sections that cast aspersions on the panel. Rijiju insisted the JPC report represented Parliament, not just the NDA.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured that his party had no objections to including dissenting views in the final report. He acknowledged Opposition concerns and agreed to incorporate their feedback if necessary.

JPC chairman Jagadambika Pal questioned the Opposition’s decision to walk out despite Shah’s assurance. He argued that with the Speaker’s directive to include dissent notes, the Opposition had no reason to protest.

The controversy surrounding the Waqf Bill report has intensified political tensions, with the Opposition demanding transparency and the ruling party defending the committee’s authority.