Opposition MPs boycott Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on Waqf Amendment Bill

The members alleged that Anwar Manippadi, former Chairman, of Karnataka State Minorities Commission and Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation, presentation was not about Waqf Bill.

They alleged that Anwar was making unnecessary allegations against Karnataka Government and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, which is not in accordance with the committee and not acceptable.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said that they have boycotted the meeting as the committee is not functioning with principles.

"We have boycotted because the committee is not functioning with the principles and norms of the committee. Ethically and principally they are wrong," Sawant said.

The Opposition MPs have decided to approach the Lok Sabha Speaker to discuss all their concern about the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Bill.

Earlier today, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and his father Hari Shankar Jain with their team arrived at the Parliament Annexe to record their presentation before the Joint Parliamentary Committee.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Aug 8 and was then referred to a JPC after a heated debate. The JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is holding a series of informal discussions with various stakeholders till October 1.

These consultations aim to refine the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, which governs the management of over 600,000 registered Waqf properties across the country.

The Waqf Act, of 1995, was created to regulate waqf properties, but it has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

The committee has to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the next parliament session. (ANI)