On 27th January, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, adopted all amendments proposed by BJP-led NDA members. The decision was made during a clause-by-clause discussion. However, the amendments suggested by the opposition MPs were rejected, leading to opposition leaders crying foul over the process. The opposition leaders accused the committee chairperson of undermining democratic norms.
Amendments and voting dynamics
The amendments accepted in 14 clauses of the Bill include provisions such as allowing state government officials, along with district magistrates, to take on certain roles and increasing Waqf tribunal members from two to three. While 16 MPs from the ruling alliance backed the changes, 10 opposition members opposed them.
The opposition had proposed amendments to all 44 clauses of the Bill, which were defeated by the same 10:16 margin, deepening the divide between the two sides.
Opposition leaders called the proceedings undemocratic
Following the JPC meeting, opposition MPs expressed dismay and labelled the proceedings as “undemocratic.” Criticising the proceedings, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said, “Ever since JPC meetings began, stakeholders were called. 95-98% of stakeholders opposed the Bill… Be it the chairman or Ministry, their replies were not supplied to Members. They were not discussed. Clause-to-clause discussions are held after meeting stakeholders…But it wasn’t done…We were not provided minutes of the discussion…We moved amendments. Without any discussion or explanation, they put the amendments up for voting. They defeated it (in voting)…All procedures were bypassed and Chairman made minor changes to the Bill and pushed it forward. There was no discussion at all…Entire JPC process is farce…So, we have opposed and boycotted it now.”
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain says, "Ever since JPC meetings began, stakeholders were called. 95-98% of stakeholders opposed the Bill… Be it the chairman or Ministry, their replies were… pic.twitter.com/8We8iWdDLx
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025
SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi said, “This is a joke with the minority of the country, with the Waqf Board. Constitution has been bulldozed…This makes it seem that the Bill that was brought in was just a joke…This is a process to loot Waqf Board. Parliamentary procedure was not followed.”
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi says, "This is a joke with the minority of the country, with the Waqf Board. Constitution has been bulldozed…This makes it seem that the Bill that was brought in… pic.twitter.com/AKTthyFjsC
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “Clause by clause discussions were supposed to be held. But it was not done at all. They only held voting on the Amendments…It was not discussed…They say that the will move the final draft report on January 29. We will read it and see…Democracy is being murdered in Amrit Varsh.”
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant says, "…Clause by clause discussions were supposed to be held. But it was not done at all. They only held voting on the Amendments…It was not… pic.twitter.com/1YANtw8gRP
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025
Ruling alliance, however, countered the allegations. BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said, “The entire proceeding of the committee meeting was held in a democratic manner. The chairperson allowed everybody to speak and everybody to put forth his/her point. He patiently listened to all of them. As far as the opposition members are concerned, they moved amendments with respect to 43 out of 44 clauses, today. The NDA members moved 24 amendments with respect to 16 clauses. Since, they were 10 members in total, and we were 16; obviously each of their amendments which they proposed couldn’t see the light of the day and crashed. All the amendments that we moved were upheld… Tomorrow, the bill in its revised form will be circulated among the members. On the 29th (January) the committee will meet again to discuss the adoption of the bill…”
#WATCH | Delhi | JPC member on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 & BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi says, "…The entire proceeding of the committee meeting was held in a democratic manner. The chairperson allowed everybody to speak and everybody to put forth his/her point. He patiently… pic.twitter.com/WepS6Wawiz
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, “There were 44 resolutions and discussion and voting was held on each one of them along with amendments… Opposition was against each resolution but their objection did not get majority of the votes… We added 14 resolutions in the bill and the final draft will be presented to us on 29th January… This was a bill for the profit of the nation and the betterment of poor Muslims, to give them stature… Opposition spread false claims that this is anti-Muslim and did politics… Bala Saheb Thackeray used to say the Waqf board should be cancelled, and his so-called successor, Uddhav Thackeray’s right-hand Arvind Sawant objected to all 44 resolutions of the bill… We condemn Uddhav Thackeray for not supporting this bill and I am grateful to Sharad Pawar for supporting it… Many of the governmental projects are halted due to Waqf Board claiming it as theirs…”
#WATCH | Delhi | On JPC meeting on Waqf Bill, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske says, "There were 44 resolutions and discussion and voting was held on each one of them along with amendments… Opposition was against each resolution but their objection did not get majority of the… pic.twitter.com/GBDmWhI8Bs
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said, “All clauses we discussed…It is sad that the clauses that were very important to be moved for the improvement of this Bill were opposed too…
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal says, "All clauses we discussed…It is sad that the clauses that were very important to be moved for the improvement of this Bill were opposed too…" pic.twitter.com/heimGlEKH9
— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025
Timeline of the Bill’s review
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in the Lok Sabha on 8th August 2024, was initially expected to be tabled during the Winter Session. It was later referred to the JPC for a detailed review. The JPC has announced that the draft report will be circulated by 28th January, with formal adoption slated for 29th January.
