New Delhi: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) has approved 14 amendments to the Waqf Amendment Bill, despite strong objections from Opposition parties.The 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.

Opposition calls it ‘farcical exercise'

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.

Opposition MPs slammed the meeting
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.

After the meeting of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members - BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said that the opposition members proposed amendments concerning 43 proposals of the government.

Kalyan Banerjee:It was a farcical exercise

JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was held today in a very democratic manner. The Chairperson's Jagdambika Pal tried to hear everybody out and gave sufficient time for everybody to move the amendment that everybody wished. There are 44 amendments to the Principal Act 1995 that had been proposed by the government and had been tabled before all of us to deliberate upon. 34 sittings have already taken place for deliberating on the entire matter.

108 hours have been dedicated to this job. More than 284 stakeholders have been consulted and their views have been given due importance," Sarangi said.

As far as today's meeting is concerned, let me tell you that against these 44 amendments, the Opposition part MPs had proposed amendments concerning 43 proposals of the govt. As far as NDA MPs are concerned, they have moved 24 proposals. Every proposal moved either by the Opposition or the Ruling Party was put to debate and voting was done by raising of hand. The voting was mostly 10:16.

'This is a bad day for democracy'

There were 10 members and we were 16...Today also they started creating a ruckus and the entire Opposition team was led by Kalyan Banerjee...This particular Bill has been deliberated upon very extensively, very thoroughly. This committee had also gone to a couple of states to hear the organisations which have not been able to come to Delhi. So, I think the entire procedure has been done in a very democratic manner," the BJP MP added.