New Delhi: On Monday, several opposition leaders staged a walkout from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in protest against a presentation by the Delhi Waqf Board. The leaders, including AAP MP Sanjay Singh, DMKs Mohammed Abdulla, and Congress MPs Naseer Hussain and Mohamed Jawed, expressed discontent over changes allegedly made to the presentation without informing the Delhi government.Alterations by Delhi Waqf board administratorAccording to the opposition leaders, Ashwini Kumar, the MCD Commissioner and administrator of the Delhi Waqf Board, modified the initial report without Chief Minister Atishis consent. This action sparked outrage among members who felt the modifications were made to influence the committees stance on the proposed Waqf amendments.All opposition MPs boycotted JPC meeting for Waqf Bill and ran awayAll opposition parties are worried.This clearly means that the Modi government is going to create history by implementing strict rules in the Waqf Bill. pic.twitter.com/SWb30bvqIU— Miss Roy 👑 (@FuriousSunanda) October 14, 2024JPC meeting witnesses heated exchangesThe meeting, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, included representatives from the Waqf Boards of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. The committee also heard from the Waqf Tenant Welfare Association, Call for Justice led by Trustee Chander Wadhwa, and Harbans Dunkall, President of the Residents Welfare Association, B.K. Dutt Colony. These entities provided their insights on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which aims to digitize records, implement stricter audits, and address illegal property occupations.Previous tensions in committee meetingsTensions have run high in recent meetings. On October 22, an altercation reportedly occurred between BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay and TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, during which Banerjee allegedly threw a glass bottle and subsequently injured his hand. The TMC MP was temporarily barred from attending one JPC meeting due to the incident.The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aims to introduce digital tracking of Waqf properties, ensure transparency, and create a robust legal framework for reclaiming illegally occupied properties. The proposed reforms mark a significant step in addressing management issues within Waqf properties.
