Opposition MPs stage walkout of Waqf Bill panel meet, may approach Speaker

A meeting of the JPC on Monday saw chaotic scenes after several opposition MPs staged a walkout, alleging that the panel failed to function in accordance with rules and regulations.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi arrives for a Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, in New Delhi, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi arrives for a Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, in New Delhi, Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.Photo | PTI
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NEW DELHI: With the Centre asserting that it will pass the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 during the upcoming session of Parliament, Opposition MPs are mulling to approach the Lok Sabha Speaker to address several concerns about the Joint Parliamentary committee examining the proposed legislation. The committee has to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the next Parliament session.

A meeting of the JPC on Monday saw chaotic scenes after several opposition MPs staged a walkout, alleging that the panel failed to function in accordance with rules and regulations. Several MPs, including Gaurav Gogoi and Imran Masood of the Congress, DMK’s A Raja, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, SP’s Mohibbullah and Sanjay Singh of the AAP, stormed out of the meeting and expressed strong sentiments against its proceedings. While the Opposition members held a separate meeting, sources said that they are likely to approach the Speaker to discuss their concerns.

Speaking to reporters, Sawant said that the JPC is not functioning in accordance with rules and regulations. Sawant along with other MPs said that personal allegations were allowed to be levelled against senior Opposition members like Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge by a person who was deposing before the committee.

They alleged that presentation of Anwar Manippadi, former chairman of Karnataka State Minorities Commission and Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation, was not about Waqf Bill. “Anwar was making unnecessary allegations against the Karnataka government and Kharge, which is not in accordance with the committee,” said a member. However, the committee headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal continued with its proceedings.

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