NEW DELHI: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill adopted the draft report and the amended bill on January 29, 2025. The committee will present the report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 30. However, opposition leaders have submitted their dissent notes regarding the report.
JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal told reporters, "Today, we adopted the report and the amended bill. For the first time, we've included a section that ensures Waqf benefits reach marginalized groups, including the poor, women, and orphans. Tomorrow, we’ll present the report to the Speaker."
He explained that out of the 44 clauses, amendments were proposed to 14. After voting, the majority accepted these amendments.
BJP MP Dr. Radha Mohan Das Agrawal criticized the opposition, claiming it was in their nature to oppose the government. "The report passed with 14 votes for and 11 against. The opposition has submitted their dissent notes. It's their job to oppose everything the government does," he said.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya emphasized that the government's goal was to bring modernity, transparency, and accountability to Waqf property management and prevent abuse by those trying to take over lands. "The amendments and the final report achieve these goals, empowering the Muslim community by improving accountability and transparency," Surya said.
However, opposition leaders have strongly criticized the JPC's actions.
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he would oppose the bill when it reaches Parliament. "We got a 655-page draft report late last night, and it's impossible to read and give feedback in such a short time. But we still made an effort to submit our dissent," he said. Owaisi added that he believed the bill was aimed at harming the Waqf Board and seizing mosques, and criticized the inclusion of non-Muslim members on the Muslim Waqf Board.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee also submitted his dissent note. "We received the 656-page draft at 7:55 pm yesterday, and it doesn’t reflect the views we shared during deliberations. It ignores what we said and seems to mock the process," Banerjee said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant raised concerns about constitutional issues with the amendments. "The new provisions allow the central government to appoint members, instead of elections, and bring non-Muslims into the Waqf. This could set a precedent for other religious boards," Sawant said.
DMK MP A Raja claimed the draft report was adopted too quickly. We received report at 9.50-pm last day, and How can anyone be expected to submit dissent notes in such a short time?" he asked.
Congress MP Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain criticized the report for ignoring objections and said the amendments harmed minority rights, especially for the Muslim community.