NEW DELHI: Chairperson of the JPC scrutinising the Waqf Bill, Jagdambika Pal, Thursday said the panel’s draft report is ready to be taken up for discussion in Parliament, even as opposition MPs in the committee demanded an extension of the Nov 29 deadline for more deliberations on the report.
The joint parliamentary committee (JPC) has been asked by Lok Sabha to submit its report on the last day of the first week of Parliament’s winter session, which begins Monday.
“Our draft report is ready. We will soon give a date for clause by clause discussion on its recommendations,” Pal said after an almost six-hour meeting of the JPC, during which the minority affairs ministry presented a detailed justification for the proposed amendments proposed by the govt in the Waqf Act.
Opposition MPs will meet LS Speaker Om Birla on Nov 25 the first day of the Parliament session, seeking an extension. They said they needed more time to raise questions and seek clarifications. Pal said the panel has engaged in an exhaustive deliberation with a gamut of stakeholders, and all members were given the opportunity to pose questions and seek replies, as he suggested that all that is left now is for the panel to discuss the report. “I hope there will be a consensus,” he said, a possibility highly unlikely due to opposition members’ relentless objections to a host of the Bill’s proposals.
The proposed law is seen by them as a part of the BJP-led govt’s political agenda. MPs from Congress, TMC, DMK, AAP and AIMIM have repeatedly questioned Pal’s choice of stakeholders, and have even complained to Birlathe speaker over his alleged unilateral conduct and implementation of the govt’s agenda. Pal has dismissed the charges, asserting that he has allowed every stakeholder and all opposition MPs to record their views.
He said if opposition MPs want to meet Birla, it is their right. The speaker had constituted the committee, and whatever he decides will be acceptable to all, Pal added.
The minority affairs ministry has deposed before the committee for nearly 29 hours over five days, and nearly 1,000 slides covering members’ views and the ministry’s replies and stand have been prepared, Pal said, rebutting the opposition’s charge of inadequate deliberations. The panel has held 25 sittings and travelled to many states, he added. A BJP MP said around 146 groups deposed before the committee which received over 95.86 lakh suggestions through various means, including e-mail.