NEW DELHI: The governing BJP and opposition clashed over the plan to finalise the Waqf bill, with the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) announcing back-to-back meetings on Jan 24 and 25 to wind up its work, and the opposition demanding that the sessions be postponed by a week. BJP dubbed the opposition plea as a delaying tactic.
The opposition said MPs did not get the required time to collect evidence and peruse material to finalise their arguments for a clause-by-clause discussion and for moving the amendments, and scheduling meetings just three days after the end of field tours will “defeat” the “purpose of the constitution of the JPC itself”.
They demanded that the meetings be held on Jan 30-31. Opposition MPs, represented by DMK veteran A Raja, has shot off a protest letter to panel chairperson Jagdambika Pal, claiming the issue was discussed in the Lucknow JPC session on Jan 21 and he had reacted positively to their demand for postponement.
Raja said rushing through the finalization of the bill without giving time to the opposition will raise doubts in the minds of people that while “secular fabrics of the Constitution embodied in its Preamble itself are endangered”, “due process in conducting JPC is not followed”.
But government appeared ready to go ahead with the meetings, with BJP sources saying the report has to be submitted in the budget session. They added the bill will be passed as NDA allies have pledged their support to the final legislation.
“We have held extensive consultations and a demand for extension seems a tactic to delay the tabling of the bill,” said BJP MP and JPC member Nishikant Dubey. Opposition said that since the JPC’s tours to Patna, Kolkata and Lucknow were completed on Jan 21, after which MPs dispersed to their constituencies/states, it was “strange the next dates of the sitting of the JPC were hurriedly announced without any formal discussion when the JPC was already on tour”.
“The members are not in a position to recollect evidence/materials on a short notice, which are needed for moving the amendments and discussion,” Raja said. Pal said, “In the last six months, we have held 34 meetings in Delhi alone. I believe it will be a very good report… and a good law will be made to ensure that Waqf properties are used for their intended purposes.”