The Janata Dal (United) said on Tuesday that the Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC), which is discussing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, has accepted the amendments suggested by it. At the same time, the party also accused the opposition parties of doing politics on the issue.
BJP’s ally Telugu Desam Party, JD (U) and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) supported the bill with some amendments at the committee meeting on Monday.
When this bill was introduced in Parliament during the monsoon session last year, these three parties openly refrained from supporting it and advocated extensive deliberations to address the concerns of the Muslim community.
JD (U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, “The opposition has become a habit of politics on every question. All the suggestions made by JD (U) in JPC have been accepted. Our suggestions will be included in the amendments that will come. ”
He said that JD (U) has no complaints about the functioning of JPC.
JD (U) MP Dileshwar Kamait introduced an amendment to the section of the bill, making it mandatory to list Waqf properties with details on the portal within six months of the implementation of the new law. The committee has accepted it.
Kamat proposed that the ‘Mutavalli’ (caretaker) of the property should be given the right to extend the period, provided that the Waqf Tribunal in the state is satisfied with it.
Sources said that Kamait had presented this amendment with BJP’s Aparajita Sarangi and the committee supported it by majority.
The four amendments presented by TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Deorayalu and BJP’s Brijlal were also accepted.
Sources said that these amendments are related to abolishing the right to survey government property dispute with the concerned District Collector.
These amendments allow that the state government can nominate an officer above the rank through notification to investigate according to the law.
Many Muslim bodies objected to the rights given to the collector. He had argued that the collector is also the head of the revenue records, so no investigation by him can be fair as he will run according to his office claims.
Sources said that the BJP is pressurizing its colleagues to remain united with the proposed law, which the opposition parties have termed the alleged intervention in Muslim religious affairs, describing it as ‘unconstitutional’.
The ruling BJP has insisted that the proposed law will make the functioning of Waqf boards more transparent and efficient. He argues that an aristocratic group running boards made a profit at the cost of the interests of the community under the current structure.
A meeting is going to be held on Wednesday to accept the draft report of the committee headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal.
