New Delhi: On Friday, ten members of the Opposition were suspended during a joint committee meeting of Parliament concerning the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. They accused the committee’s chairperson of turning the proceedings into a “farce,” as the committee prepares to adopt its draft report in the coming week.
The meeting was notably marked by the appearance of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a moderate leader of the Hurriyat and the religious head of Muslims in Kashmir, who expressed his opposition to the proposed legislation. However, this significant moment was overshadowed by the loud protests from Opposition members, which ultimately led to their suspension.
Opposition MPs claimed that Jagdambika Pal, the committee’s Chairman, was advancing the agenda at the government’s direction, particularly in light of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on February 5.
Subsequently, they submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting that Pal delay the meeting scheduled for January 27 and engage with other members regarding the next date and agenda.
In response, Pal accused the Opposition members, particularly Kalyan Banerjee from the Trinamool Congress, of using abusive language and insults in an attempt to disrupt the proceedings. They transcended all limits, he remarked. The suspension is scheduled for Friday, and Opposition Members of Parliament will be able to participate in the subsequent meeting. The meeting on January 27 is intended to review the Bill clause by clause prior to finalizing the report.
Opposition MPs have requested additional time to formulate their perspectives after examining the opinions of stakeholders. These members, including Banerjee, DMK’s A Raja, Congress’ Naseer Hussain, and BJP MPs exchanged accusations, with the former asserting that their protests were conducted in a civil manner after receiving no response from Pal.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi criticized Banerjee’s behavior, often the most outspoken member of the Opposition, labeling it as “disgusting” and claiming that Opposition members caused a disturbance as part of a strategy to undermine the meeting.
Banerjee stated that Pal informed them on January 21, while the committee members were in Lucknow engaging with stakeholders, that the upcoming meetings would take place on January 24-25. Raja wrote on behalf of the Opposition MPs, requesting the Chairman to postpone the meeting until after January 30 or 31, but to no avail.
He noted that the agenda for Friday’s meeting was altered late on Thursday and communicated to members just before midnight. “The Chairman is treating Opposition members as if they were domestic staff, issuing commands,” Banerjee asserted.
He further claimed that Pal received multiple phone calls during the meeting and alleged that he was following directives from senior government officials.
Pal criticized his detractors, asserting that he was guiding the committee in the most democratic fashion, permitting every opposition Member of Parliament to express their opinions at any time they wished.
He noted that this was the 35th meeting held on Friday. The experienced BJP MP contended that opposition members were disseminating misinformation regarding the Bill’s provisions, akin to their alleged incitement of fears surrounding the abrogation of Article 370 and the implementation of instant triple talaq.
Pal mentioned that he had to adjourn the meeting twice to restore order and was compelled to suspend certain members following a motion introduced by BJP member Nishikant Dubey due to their disruptive behavior.
The suspended members included Banerjee and Nadeem-ul Haque (Trinamool Congress), Mohammad Jawed, Imran Masood, and Hussain (Congress), Raja and Mohamed Abdullah (DMK), Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Mohibullah (Samajwadi Party), and Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-UBT).
This suspension of opposition members coincided with a visit from a delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the religious leader of Muslims in Kashmir, who came to present their concerns regarding the draft legislation.
According to official sources, the committee is expected to finalize its report on January 29. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament on August 8 after being introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 to tackle issues and challenges related to the regulation and management of Waqf properties. Initially, the committee was assigned to submit its report during the Winter Session, but its deadline has been extended until the conclusion of the upcoming Budget Session, which commences on January 31.
The Mirwaiz expressed to reporters his strong opposition to the Bill, advocating for non-interference by the government in religious matters. “We hope our suggestions will be considered and implemented, ensuring that no actions are taken that would lead Muslims to feel disempowered,” he stated.
The matter of Waqf is of significant importance, particularly for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, given its status as a Muslim-majority region. There are numerous concerns among the populace regarding this issue, and we have compiled a comprehensive memorandum that addresses these concerns in detail. Our request to the government is to avoid any interference in Waqf affairs, stated the Mirwaiz.
He asserted that discussions surrounding mosques and temples have already created a tense atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. “We hold the view that no actions should be taken that could further disrupt the environment in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Mirwaiz remarked.
This marks the first occasion on which the Mirwaiz, who also leads the largely inactive separatist group Hurriyat Conference, has ventured outside the Kashmir valley since the revocation of the special status of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
