The Joint Parliamentary Committee report on the Waqf Bill, led by Jagdambika Pal, was presented amidst uproar in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Despite strong opposition protests, Medha Vishram Kulkarni presented the report, which the Upper House accepted by voice vote. The opposing Congress accused the report of being fraudulent, stating that due process was not followed in its creation. 'We cannot accept such a fabricated report,' they asserted. Opposition members alleged that dissenting notes were deleted from the report, prompting the Samajwadi Party to declare opposition and intensify their protest. The opposition stands united against this.
This fraudulent report, we reject - Congress
Calling the JPC report on the Waqf Bill fraudulent, opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge stated in the Rajya Sabha that they do not recognize such a report, and neither will the House. He emphasized that many of their members submitted dissent notes on the Waqf Bill. Removing them from proceedings is undemocratic. 'Are those who provided dissent notes uneducated?' Kharge questioned, demanding that dissent notes be included in the report's presentation. He alleged constitutional procedures weren't followed, claiming external stakeholders were invited to contribute views. Kharge appealed to Leader of the House JP Nadda to resend the report to the JPC and bring it back following constitutional methods and suggested the Chair can refuse acceptance as done by some Governors in states.
Sanjay Singh raised the issue of removed dissent notes
AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh voiced grievances about being part of the JPC, acknowledging the varied opinions yet questioned their dismissal. 'How can our views be discarded like trash?' he challenged the government, accusing them of taking control over Waqf properties and threatened other religious assets could be next.
Kiren Rijiju responded- No dissent note was removed
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition of misleading the House by asserting no dissent notes were deleted and the report was prepared per rules. 'The opposition's claims are false, they're raising unnecessary issues,' he said.
TMC MP Saket Hussain argued it's a constitutional, not religious matter, highlighting reduced dissent notes as censorship. Rijiju responded, once tabled discussions don't occur if there are flaws; discussion time comes later. He clarified that JPC's full report and annexures were tabled without omissions. Opposing objections were dismissed as timing for debate wasn’t appropriate.
Opposition walked out
Frustrated opposition members staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha. Criticizing Congress, JP Nadda remarked that the chair had earnestly allowed discussions and even leniency in rule breaches aimed to prevent action, highlighting their intention wasn't debate but point-scoring.
Also read: Congress labels JPC Report on Waqf Bill unconstitutional; amid chaos, Rijiju claims no dissent notes deleted
Nadda added that the Parliamentary Affairs Minister clearly stated that nothing was removed, reiterating the Chair's right to delete, describing it as appeasement politics. He condemned some for exploiting it as nation-breaking politics, with Congress supporting those divisive forces.
Major changes cause such events - Chair's observation
Rajya Sabha’s Chair, Jagdeep Dhankar, recalled historical changes like the Mandal Commission implementation sparking opposition movements, suggesting willingness to accommodate is not constitutional disrespect.
Also read: 'Some MPs incite Muslims,' criticizes Medha Kulkarni who presented Waqf JPC Report amidst opposition attack
Emphasizing Waqf's direction parallels such movements, he noted actions, such as coming to the Well, are thoroughly considered. Ignoring this issue disrespects constitutional framers. Conduct of three members suggests potential repercussions if unaddressed before session ends, with necessary actions irrespective of support volume needed for national interest.
SP declares opposition, Owaisi meets Speaker
India's third-largest party, SP announced opposition to the JPC report on the Waqf Bill. SP MP Dimple Yadav stated they resist this bill with possible ruling party alignment. AIADMK leader Asaduddin Owaisi revealed his meeting with Speaker Birla, appealing about ignored dissent notes, seeking acknowledgment and inclusion in the Lok Sabha report's submission.
