Waqf Amendment Bill LIVE | JPC to be constituted for further scrutiny
Bill introduced in Lok Sabha by voice vote after a host of Opposition MPs try to prevent it, calling it against the Constitution
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will hold consultations with leaders of all political parties and constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny of the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024.
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by voice vote on Thursday (August 8). Earlier in the day, when Union minister Kiren Rijiju attempted to introduce the Bill, a host of Opposition MPs tried to prevent it. Congress MP KC Venugopal opposed its introduction, saying it was in violation of Article 26 of the Indian Constitution.
Venugopal said the government has brought a provision that would allow non-Muslims to be members of the Waqf Council. He questioned whether the government would tolerate a non-Hindu on the Ram Mandir trust.
Intended to polarise voters in assembly polls: Venugopal
He accused the government of bringing the bill at this juncture with the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections in mind, in order to polarise the voters. The Congress MP asserted that the Bill is an attack on the freedom of religion and also an attack on federalism as the states have not been consulted.
Venugopal also claimed that the provisions of the Bill would create ownership disputes on every Muslim/Wakf property, and that the intention behind the amendment is not noble.
Muslims being singled out: Mohibullah
The Samajwadi Party MP from Rampur, who is a cleric of Delhi’s Parliament Street mosque, Mohibullah also opposed the introduction of the Bill. He too said that the Bill was violative of Article 26 of the Constitution, and that it stood in contrast to similar laws that govern properties of other religions. He said that no other law governing religious properties of Hindus, Sikhs, or Christians allows members of a different religion to be part of their Trusts, but Muslims are being singled out.
TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay next stood up and opposed the Bill, and called it a violation of Articles 14, 25, and 26 and of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. The MP said the Bill is anti-Constitution, anti-federalism, and divisive.
(Follow more live updates below)
Live Updates
- 8 Aug 2024 10:27 AM GMT
Govt's 'excessive interest' in religious matters against Constitution: Mayawati
BSP chief Mayawati on Thursday targeted the central and Uttar Pradesh governments over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, saying their "forceful interference" in matters of mosques, madrasas, and Waqf was against the country's Constitution.In a series of posts on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day, should be sent to the Standing Committee of the House for better consideration."The forceful interference of the central and UP governments in the matters of mosques, madrasas, and Waqf, and taking excessive interest in religious matters like temples and monasteries is against the Constitution and its principle of secularism. Is such narrow and selfish politics necessary? The government should fulfil its national duties," Mayawati said in one of the posts in Hindi.The Congress and the BJP have been reaping electoral gains by indulging in politics of religion and caste. But now it is time to focus on saving reservation, and ending poverty, unemployment, inflation, and backwardness, she said in another post."In view of the doubts, apprehensions and objections raised on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill presented in Parliament today, it is appropriate to send this Bill to the Standing Committee of the House for better consideration. It would be better if the government does not hurry on such sensitive issues," she added. - 8 Aug 2024 9:55 AM GMT
JPC to be constituted
Speaker Om Birla informs the House that he will have consultations with leaders of all political parties and constitute a JPC for further scrutiny of the Waqf Amendment Bill. - 8 Aug 2024 9:51 AM GMT
Proposal is that an MP should be part of Waqf Board: Rijiju
Kiren Rijiju says, "...It is not right to associate Members of Parliament with any religion. We are not saying that people of different religions should be made a part of Waqf board. We are saying that a Member of Parliament should be a member (of the Waqf board). Now, if the MP is a hindu or Christian, then what can we do about it.? Now, if an MP is added to Waqf Board by the virtue of him/her being an MP, then should we change the MP's religion?" - 8 Aug 2024 9:45 AM GMT
Govt intention clean: Rijiju
Rijiju says government's intention clean, says open to referring the Waqf Amendment Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee also, but urges Opposition to allow the Bill to be introduced. - 8 Aug 2024 9:33 AM GMT
Bill given new title, UMEED
Kiren Rijiju says, "This bill has been now titled ‘United Waqf Act Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Act', 1995 - 'UMEED'...."
