Delhi: Opposition MPs in parliamentary panel to examine Waqf Amendment Bill walk out
December 7, 2022
New Delhi: Opposition members of a parliamentary panel examining the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2022, on Wednesday walked out of the meeting, alleging bias by the chairperson.
The Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, and provides for the establishment of a Central Waqf Commission to oversee the functioning of state Waqf boards.
The opposition members, including Congress' Shashi Tharoor and Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy, alleged that the panel chairman, BJP MP Satyapal Singh, was not allowing them to express their views and was rushing through the proceedings.
Tharoor told reporters that the opposition members had submitted a note of dissent to the chairman, but he refused to accept it.
"We have walked out in protest. This is a very important bill and we wanted to discuss it in detail, but the chairman was not allowing us to speak," Tharoor said.
Roy said the opposition members had several objections to the Bill, including the provision for the establishment of a Central Waqf Commission.
"We believe that this will lead to the centralisation of Waqf properties and the erosion of the autonomy of state Waqf boards," Roy said.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2022, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 5. It is likely to be taken up for discussion and passage in the ongoing winter session of Parliament.
The Bill has been opposed by several Muslim organisations, which have alleged that it will give the government control over Waqf properties.
The government has, however, maintained that the Bill is necessary to bring transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties.
Key Points:
- Opposition MPs in a parliamentary panel examining the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2022, walked out of the meeting, alleging bias by the chairperson.
- The Bill seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, and provides for the establishment of a Central Waqf Commission to oversee the functioning of state Waqf boards.
- The opposition members alleged that the panel chairman was not allowing them to express their views and was rushing through the proceedings.
- The opposition members have several objections to the Bill, including the provision for the establishment of a Central Waqf Commission.
- They believe that this will lead to the centralisation of Waqf properties and the erosion of the autonomy of state Waqf boards.
- The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2022, has been opposed by several Muslim organisations, which have alleged that it will give the government control over Waqf properties.
- The government has, however, maintained that the Bill is necessary to bring transparency and accountability in the management of Waqf properties.
