Waqf Amendment Bill Clears Parliamentary Committee Despite Opposition Protests

A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Monday approved the Waqf Amendment Bill, which proposes 44 modifications to the management of Muslim charitable properties in India.

The bill was originally tabled in August last year, and the committee, headed by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal, reviewed a total of 66 proposed amendments-23 from BJP MPs and 44 from opposition members.

However, the opposition's amendments were rejected following a vote along party lines, with the JPC comprising 16 BJP or allied MPs and just 10 from the opposition, reported NDTV.

Voting on the acceptance of the 14 approved changes is scheduled for January 29, and the final report will be submitted by January 31. Although the committee had initially been given a deadline of November 29, this was later extended to February 13, the final day of the Budget Session.

"...44 amendments were discussed. In detailed discussions (spread) over six months, we sought amendments from all members. This was our final meeting... 14 were accepted by the committee on the basis of a majority (vote). Opposition also suggested amendments... each was put to a vote. There were 10 votes supporting theirs (suggested amendments) and 16 votes opposing it..." said Pal.

The committee, which was tasked with reviewing the amendments, held nearly three dozen hearings, though many descended into chaos after opposition MPs accused the Chair of favouring the ruling party.

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi defended Pal, remarking that the chairperson "tried to hear everybody out and gave sufficient time for everybody to move amendments..."

Last week, opposition MPs sent a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to express their concerns, alleging that Pal was attempting to "steamroll" the Waqf Amendment Bill through, with a particular focus on the February 5 Delhi elections.

This appeal followed the suspension of 10 opposition MPs, who, along with their colleagues, claimed they were not being given enough time to study the proposed changes.

The suspended MPs included Trinamool Congress' Kalyan Banerjee and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, both of whom are vocal critics of the Waqf Amendment Bill.

In October, Banerjee had an outburst, smashing a glass bottle on the table and throwing it at Pal. He later clarified his actions, explaining that another BJP MP, former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, had insulted his family, which provoked his reaction.

The Waqf Amendment Bill outlines several changes to the administration of Waqf boards, including the nomination of non-Muslim members and at least two women.

Additionally, the central Waqf Council, if the amendments are passed, will be required to include a Union minister, three MPs, two ex-judges, four individuals of "national repute", and senior government officials, none of whom need to be from the Islamic faith.

The proposed amendments would also prevent the Waqf Council from claiming land, and introduce restrictions on donations from Muslims who have been practising their faith for at least five years-a provision that has sparked controversy, especially regarding the definition of a "practising Muslim."

Sources have indicated that the intent behind these amendments is to empower Muslim women and children who have "suffered" under the previous law. However, critics, including Congress' KC Venugopal, argue that this constitutes a "direct attack on freedom of religion."

Owaisi and the DMK's Kanimozhi have also argued that the bill violates multiple provisions of the Constitution, including Article 15 (the right to practise a religion of one's choice) and Article 30 (the right of minority communities to establish and administer their educational institutions).