Members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, have submitted a memorandum to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, asking JPC Chairman to ensure transparency and patience in the action of the committee.
The members also called for the postponement of the 27th meeting, scheduled for January 27, citing the need for adequate time for Opposition members to present their arguments following parliamentary rules and procedures.
Opposition members suspended
The letter, signed by Opposition MPs who were suspended from the JPC earlier today, expressed strong disapproval of the Chairman’s handling of the proceedings. The MPs alleged that their requests for fair deliberations were ignored, leading to their suspension.
“When the meeting began at 11:00 AM, we respectfully raised concerns regarding the unilateral and unfair manner in which the Chairman was conducting the business. Despite presenting our reasonable demands for postponement, the Chairman refused to engage with us and instead resorted to suspending Opposition members,” the letter stated.
The Opposition members highlighted that they had adjusted their schedules based on earlier notices for meetings on January 24 and 25, assuming there would be no sessions between January 27 and 30 due to the upcoming Parliament session starting on January 31. They argued that this justified their plea for rescheduling.
Allegations of rushed proceedings
The letter also criticised the Chairman for rushing through the JPC’s deliberations without addressing key issues raised by stakeholders. “A comprehensive study is essential to address the concerns holistically. Rushing the proceedings without due application of mind reflects malice and undermines parliamentary democracy,” it read.
The MPs further argued that the Chairman did not possess the authority to suspend members of the committee and called for intervention from the Speaker to rectify the situation.
Call for fair parliamentary process
The members concluded by urging the Speaker to direct the JPC Chairman to:
• Conduct proceedings transparently and impartially.
• Postpone the 27th meeting to allow Opposition members sufficient time to present their arguments.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, has been a point of contention in recent months, with debates intensifying over its implications and the handling of discussions in the JPC. Further developments are awaited as the committee prepares to present its report in Parliament.
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