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Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf, stated on Wednesday that the committee had invited Darul Uloom Deoband to provide their suggestions on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Speaking to ANI, Pal described Darul Uloom Deoband as a respected institution. "Darul Uloom Deoband is a reputed organisation that produces Islamic scholars. The Waqf Amendment Bill is currently under consideration by the JPC. We have invited Darul Uloom Deoband to share their suggestions," he said. Earlier in the day, Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, attended the JPC meeting on the Waqf Bill at the Parliament premises. Recently, the Lok Sabha approved a motion to extend the tenure of the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and mandated the presentation of their report by the end of the 2025 Budget Session. On December 5, Jagdambika Pal noted that the committee had held 27 meetings in Delhi prior to the extension of its tenure. These meetings included discussions with multiple stakeholders and various ministries of the Government of India. The JPC Chairman emphasised that consultations with a wide range of stakeholders and ministries aim to produce a thorough and comprehensive report on the matter. Since August 22, the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has convened several meetings, reviewing the work of six ministries and engaging with around 195 organisations. Among these, 146 organisations were consulted nationwide, and the committee's secretariat received approximately 95 lakh suggestions concerning the Waqf Bill. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to address these challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The JPC is conducting extensive consultations with government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members, and community representatives from various states and Union Territories to ensure a comprehensive overhaul of the legislation. Separately, Pal criticised the INDIA bloc for its no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. "The Adani issue is not a real issue. He is a citizen of this country. Soros is not a citizen of this country, yet he seeks to create instability here. He has funded the Forum of Democratic Leaders in the Asia-Pacific, where Sonia Gandhi is a co-founder. Soros finances separatists and Khalistanis in our country. He wants to derail the Indian economy and has connections with Congress leaders. To avoid discussions on this, the Opposition is bringing the no-confidence motion," Pal said. (ANI)
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