New Delhi [India], April 2 : Ahead of the tabling of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Deputy leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi strongly opposed the bill, saying that it would "disturb the peace in the country".
Gogoi said the clause-by-clause discussion was not held in the Joint Parliamentary Committee and added that the law is against the constitution and minorities.
"Clause-by-clause discussion which should have happened in the JPC, was not done. The government's attitude from day one has been to bring such a law which is against the Constitution and minorities, which will disturb the peace in the country," Gogoi said.
Meanwhile, Jagdambika Pal, who was the Chairman of the JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill, said that the Bill, which is going to be tabled in the Parliament for passing, would benefit poor and Pasmanda (backward) Muslims.
Labelling it as a "historic day", Pal said that the hard work of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which took stakeholders in several states in confidence, has paid off. He added that JPC meetings were held and opposition was heard for eight hours every day.
"Our hard work has paid off...The government is coming with the bill in an amended form today. This is definitely a historic day. Today, with the passing of this bill, the poor and Pasmanda Muslims are going to benefit...We have conducted the JPC meetings in the last six months. We have heard them (opposition) 8 hours every day," Pal, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) chairman for the Waqf Amendment Bill, told ANI.
As the parliament is set to convene again today, the legislative business suggests that Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju will move the Waqf Amendment Bill of 2025, which aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, for passing.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress are issuing whips to their MPs to ensure their presence in the House.
With the parties in the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and the Opposition INDIA bloc showing no signs of bipartisan consensus building, the outcomes may be decided on the majority numbers on the floor.
The bill will be tabled after today's Question Hour for consideration and passing. Following that, an 8-hour discussion will be held, subject to an increase.
The bill was presented in the Lok Sabha in August of last year, following which a Joint Parliamentary Committee was formed under Jagdambika Pal's leadership for further consideration.
The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties.