"They tried to weaken democracy": Jagdambika Pal slams Opposition for 'stalling' JPC meeting

New Delhi [India], January 25 (ANI): Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Jagdambika Pal, accused opposition MPs of not allowing the JPC meeting to proceed.
He alleged that it was part of the Opposition's strategy to stall the proceedings and prevent the report from being submitted.
Speaking to ANI, Jagdambika Pal says, "I allowed all the JPC members to put forth their views. When I tried to answer their questions, they (opposition MPs) started sloganeering, making noise and using unparliamentary words. They created a lot of ruckus. They (opposition MPs) were not allowing the meeting to proceed. They tried to weaken democracy. It is part of their strategy to stall the proceedings of the meeting and they do not want the report to be submitted."
Earlier on Friday, 10 opposition party MPs were suspended for a day on Friday following a ruckus during the meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf (Amendment Bill) 2024.
The suspended Opposition MPs were: Kalyan Banerjee, Md. Jawaid, A Raja, Asaduddin Owaisi, Nasir Hussain, Mohibullah, M. Abdullah, Arvind Sawant, Nadimul Haq, Imran Masood.
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed strong opposition to the suspension of fellow MPs, alleging that the meeting's dates were announced without prior notice.
"We have never seen a JPC (Joint parliamentary committee) in which 10 members were suspended altogether. Without any notice, the dates of the meeting are announced. Without holding any consultations with us, the agenda of the meeting is changed. It looks like they are going on a pre-mediated roadmap. A notice is issued without holding consultations with anyone that the committee will be sitting on the 24th and 25th," Gogoi said.
The next meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is scheduled to be held on January 27.
The JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is expected to submit its report during the Budget session, with the committee's term extended during the winter session of Parliament.
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 Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments.
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. (ANI)