Opposition MPs on Monday requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to extend the tenure of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 owing to the pendency of views being shared by various stakeholders.
āIt must be noted that the Waqf Amendment Bill is an expansive legislation that involves many major changes to existing law. These changes will affect a large section of Indiaās population. Therefore, a mere three-month time before the report is finalised is not only inadequate but may result in improper recommendations,ā the letter with signatories of MPs from the Opposition mentioned.
āWe have met the Lok Sabha Speaker. The JPC chairman is not listening to us. The report cannot be given in a hurry. The Speaker said that he respects our sentiments and will extend the time, so all stakeholders will be heard,ā Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee said.
The JPC meeting for the bill was held in 25 sittings and several members from different sections of society.
The letter said the meetings included presentations by āvarious irrelevant organisations and individualsā.
āAt the same time, various state governments including Bihar, New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are yet to be present before the Committee,ā it said, adding various stakeholders are still seeking time to present their views before the Committee.
The parliamentarians mentioned that the legitimacy of the legislative process will be affected if the legislation is discussed merely as a formality without providing the opportunity for people to present their views.