Waqf JPC chairman says report ready even as Oppn pushes for extension of parl panel
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Waqf JPC chairman says report ready even as Oppn pushes for extension of parl panel

The chairperson of Parliament’s joint committee examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Jagdambika Pal, announced on Thursday that the panel’s draft report is complete, despite opposition members requesting an extension to the November 29 deadline for further discussions.

“Our draft report is ready. We will soon give a date for clause-by-clause discussion on its recommendations,” Pal told news agency PTI after a nearly six-hour meeting where the minority ministry presented a detailed explanation of the proposed changes to the Waqf- the law.

Opposition members plan to meet Speaker Om Birla on November 25, the first day of Parliament’s winter session, to press their case for more time to ask questions and seek clarifications.

Pal emphasized that the committee had held thorough discussions with a wide range of stakeholders and allowed all members to ask questions and get answers. He suggested that only the final discussions on the draft report remain.

“I hope there will be consensus,” Pal said, although this seems unlikely given the opposition’s continued objections to several provisions of the bill, which they see as part of the BJP-led government’s political agenda.

Sources indicated that a short extension of the committee may still be considered, especially to complete the necessary formalities of the report before presenting it in a meeting.

The opposition lashes out at Jagdambika Pal

Members from the Congress, TMC, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party and AIMIM have railed against Jagdambika Pal for his choice of stakeholders, and some have even filed complaints with the Speaker over his handling of the committee’s work and allegations of bias against the government’s position. .

Jagdambika Pal, a veteran BJP parliamentarian, dismissed the allegations and claimed that he has allowed all stakeholders and all opposition MPs to record their views. He also acknowledged the right of opposition MPs to meet the Speaker and added that whatever decision Birla takes will be accepted by all.

According to a report by news agency PTI, the minority affairs ministry appeared before the committee for nearly 29 hours over five days and presented nearly 1,000 slides outlining the ministry’s responses and positions, countering the opposition’s claims of insufficient discussions, committee chairperson Jagdambika Pal said. . He also mentioned that the panel held 25 meetings and conducted visits to various states.

A BJP member of the committee revealed that around 146 organizations appeared before the committee, and over 95.86 lakh suggestions were received through various channels, including email.

During the meeting of the committee, Pal announced that this would be the last meeting before the draft report was discussed, leading to protests by opposition members who started shouting slogans.

Some of them reached out to the Speaker’s office and demanded intervention. The committee has been directed by the Lok Sabha to submit its report by the last day of the first week of Parliament’s winter session, which begins on Monday.

The government has already scheduled the Waqf (amendment) bill to be considered and passed in the winter session, pending the report of the joint committee to be presented to the Lok Sabha.

Opposition members have previously accused Pal of acting in favor of the government. They had even threatened to distance themselves from the committee’s work.

Their primary issue was the panel’s frequent all-day meetings, which they argued hindered their ability to adequately prepare. They also criticized Pal for allegedly “bulldozing proceedings” and not consulting them on the selection of witnesses.

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