Aakhir Tak – In Shorts:
- Opposition MPs walked out of the Waqf Bill committee meeting in protest.
- MPs accused the committee of procedural violations and personal attacks.
- Leaders claimed that the committee was not adhering to proper norms and allowing personal allegations.
Aakhir Tak – In Depth:
On Monday, several opposition MPs boycotted the meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) formed to examine the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, citing procedural violations and personal allegations. The MPs walked out of the meeting, raising concerns about the committee’s improper functioning.
Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi and Imran Masood, DMK’s A Raja, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, Samajwadi Party’s Mohibbullah, and Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh were among those who led the protest. They accused the committee of violating parliamentary norms and allowing personal allegations to be raised during the session.
Arvind Sawant expressed his frustration to reporters after the walkout, stating that senior opposition leaders like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge were unfairly targeted. He claimed, “We have boycotted because the committee is not functioning with principles and norms. They are ethically and principally wrong.”
The controversy arose after a presentation by Anwar Manippadi, former Chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission. According to the opposition, Manippadi’s remarks went beyond the scope of the Waqf Bill and included personal attacks on the Karnataka government and Kharge, leading to further discord.
Despite the opposition’s walkout, the committee, chaired by veteran BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, continued its proceedings without them. Following the protest, opposition members held a separate meeting to discuss their next steps, with some hinting at seeking intervention from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
The Waqf Act of 1995 was designed to manage waqf properties but has faced accusations of corruption, mismanagement, and encroachments for years. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to introduce comprehensive reforms, including digitization, stricter audits, increased transparency, and legal measures to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The committee has submitted its report, which will be considered in the upcoming Parliament session.
