New Delhi [India], January 24 : As the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill commences, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema on Friday expressed hopes, saying that the decision regarding the Waqf issue won't be taken in haste, where Muslims in the country feel disempowered.
He said that the Waqf board issue remains important since it is connected to the future of Muslims. He said that they have prepared a memorandum and plan to discuss their concerns in a step-by-step manner.
"Since Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim majority state, there are many concerns that people have. We will address those concerns there, at least to present it. A detailed memorandum has been prepared. There are many issues, and we will discuss them step-by-step. We hope that JPC members will appreciate the concerns raised by us and will address them because this matter is directly linked to the future of Muslims. We hope that decision won't be taken in haste where Muslims feel that they are being disempowered," Farooq told ANI.
"You can see that there is already an atmosphere of tension when there is talk of mosques and temples. We believe no step should be taken that harms the atmosphere of brotherhood. We thought JPC would come to Kashmir. We have come here at short notice," he added.
Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the JPC, on Friday, said that a meeting has been scheduled on January 29 for the final adoption of the clauses, which will be discussed in detail on January 27.
He said that the JPC members will hear the suggestions from a delegation led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, Jammu and Kashmir.
"J&K's Mirwaiz Umar Farooq sahib (Hurriyat Conference chairman and chief cleric of Kashmir) had been wanting to meet the committee, so, today we will hear the delegation headed by him. Meeting to hold clause-by-clause discussion to be held on 27th January now. We hope that a good report will be prepared. A meeting for the final adoption of the clauses will be held on 29th January. We will present the report in this (Budget) session of Parliament."
According to a notice the sittings of the JPC on Waqf will go on till early evening today, with an hour of lunch break. In the main committee room of the Parliament House Annexe, the JPC members will hear the views or suggestions of cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, Jammu and Kashmir.
The JPC members will also hear suggestions of 'Lawyers for Justice' on the Waqf (Amendment Bill) of 2024.
Moreover, another sitting of the JPC has been scheduled for January 27, starting from 11:00 in the morning, where the committee members will meet and discuss the clauses one by one.
After holding a meeting on Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the JPC said that it will be the last meeting of the JPC and after this, they will present its report in the Parliament during the budget session, scheduled for January 31.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is to submit its report during the budget session. The term of the committee was extended during the winter session of Parliament.
The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments.
Notably, the budget session of Parliament will commence on January 31 and continue till April 4, with the union budget to be presented on February 1.
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.