"We gave dissent note as clause-by-clause discussions were never held": Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sawant on JPC report on Waqf

New Delhi [India], February 13 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said on Thursday that they gave a dissent note on the JPC report on the Waqf Amendment Bill because the clause-by-clause discussions were never held in the meetings of the Committee.
Speaking to ANI, Sawant claimed that the Joint Parliamentary Committee also removed the dissent note that the opposition leaders gave.
"The committee was formed to discuss the clause-by-clause provisions made in the Bill. The JPC chairman should be asked if the answers given by the witnesses were given to the JPC members. No, they were not. Clause-by-clause discussions were never held in the meetings of the JPC. Because of this, we gave a dissent note. They have removed the dissent note we gave. We are against the Waqf report to be tabled today," the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP said.
Earlier today, a major ruckus erupted in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha when the JPC report on the Waqf Amendment Bill was to be tabled. The Lower House was adjourned till 2 pm on Thursday amid opposition sloganeering against the report.
However, the report was tabled in the Rajya Sabha amid the opposition protest.
The leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that it is not right to remove the opposition members' dissent notes and views from the report.
"In the JPC report on the Waqf Board, many members have their dissent report. It is not right to remove those notes and bulldoze our views. This is anti-democratic and condemnable. Stockholders were called from outside, and their statements were taken. I condemn any report that has been presented after deleting the dissent reports. We will never accept such fake reports. If the report does not have dissent views, it should be sent back and presented again," Kharge said.
The Leader of the House, JP Nadda, slammed the opposition over their protest and called their behaviour irresponsible.
"Inside the Parliament, there are debates and discussions on various issues, and within a democracy, we agree to disagree, but we must respect traditions. While keeping traditions in mind, the proceedings of the house should be conducted under the provisions of the Constitution," he said.
"I regret that despite repeated requests from the Chairman, the opposition's behaviour has been extremely irresponsible, and it deserves all the condemnation it receives," Nadda added.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said there is no deletion from the report submitted.
"There is no deletion or removal of any part of the report. Everything is tabled on the floor of the House. Don't mislead the House. I am very pained to say that the Opposition parties are making unnecessary issues by raising issues without facts. The allegation is false. There was no violation of any rules by the JPC. All the dissent notes are also attached to the report. This is very unfortunate," Rijiju said.
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)