Waqf (Amendment) Bill clears JPC hurdle amid opposition dissent

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday adopted its draft report and the amended version of the proposed law with a majority vote, JPC chairperson Jagdambika Pal confirmed.

Opposition MPs, however, criticized the process, arguing that they were given insufficient time to review the final report and submit dissenting opinions. Lawmakers have been granted time until 4 pm to submit their dissent notes.

Opposition Slams ‘Undemocratic’ Process

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant accused the government of pushing the Bill for political gains rather than ensuring justice.

"All opposition members will submit their dissent. The Bill disregards the Constitution and is being imposed forcefully. The proposal to include non-Muslims in the Waqf Board could eventually impact temple regulations too. There’s also a shift from electing Waqf Board members to nominating them, leading to arbitrary decisions. This undermines national unity," Sawant said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">VIDEO | As Waqf Committee is set to adopt its recommendations, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant (<a href="https://twitter.com/AGSawant?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGSawant</a>) says, &quot;I have given the dissent note. Misconception is being spread, the Bill was brought for political objective, not for justice, even the Constitution is not… <a href="https://t.co/PNUNPmzAHU">pic.twitter.com/PNUNPmzAHU</a></p>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1884483428671971808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also voiced strong opposition, calling the amendments detrimental to the Waqf Board’s autonomy.

"A 650-page report was signed just last night. It’s practically impossible to read all the pages and submit a dissent note in time. However, we did our best during the JPC discussions. It’s evident that these amendments are not in the best interest of Waqf; rather, they will weaken and destroy the Waqf Board," Owaisi stated.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">VIDEO | On Joint Parliamentary Committee scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (<a href="https://twitter.com/asadowaisi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@asadowaisi</a>), says, &quot;A voluminous over 650- page report was sent to us last night. It’s humanly impossible to read all the pages and give a dissent report, but we did… <a href="https://t.co/yDD07BvhDu">pic.twitter.com/yDD07BvhDu</a></p>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1884484731892576681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What’s Next?
With the JPC approving the Bill, it is now expected to be tabled in Parliament for further debate. However, with strong opposition from several quarters, the political battle over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill is far from over.