Opposition MPs Discuss Waqf Amendment Bill with Lok Sabha Speaker
On Tuesday, opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in New Delhi to discuss their concerns. Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee expressed that the Speaker assured them he would address their grievances. Banerjee highlighted the absence of BJP leaders in JPC meetings, which affects the quorum, and appreciated the Speaker’s patience and kindness.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also shared that they presented their views to the Speaker, who promised to consider their issues carefully. Singh noted that some discussions are confidential due to committee limitations.
Last month, Banerjee faced a one-day suspension for alleged misconduct during a JPC meeting on the Waqf bill. The JPC’s work is part of a national effort to reform the Waqf Act, 1995, which has faced issues of mismanagement and corruption. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to introduce digitization, stricter audits, transparency, and legal measures to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
The JPC is conducting meetings with government officials, legal experts, Waqf Board members, and community representatives to ensure comprehensive reforms.
Doubts Revealed
Opposition MPs -: Opposition MPs are members of parliament who belong to political parties that are not in power. They often question and challenge the government’s decisions.
Lok Sabha Speaker -: The Lok Sabha Speaker is the person who is in charge of the meetings in the Lok Sabha, which is one of the two houses of India’s Parliament. The Speaker makes sure that the discussions are fair and orderly.
Om Birla -: Om Birla is a politician who, as of the time of this summary, is serving as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha in India.
Waqf Amendment Bill -: The Waqf Amendment Bill is a proposed change to the existing Waqf Act, which deals with properties and assets donated for religious or charitable purposes in Islam. The amendment aims to make the system more modern and transparent.
Trinamool Congress -: Trinamool Congress is a political party in India, mainly active in the state of West Bengal. It is one of the opposition parties in the Indian Parliament.
AAP -: AAP stands for Aam Aadmi Party, which is a political party in India. It was founded to represent the common people and is also part of the opposition in the Parliament.
JPC -: JPC stands for Joint Parliamentary Committee, which is a group of members from both houses of Parliament. They work together to study and discuss specific issues or bills.
Digitization -: Digitization means converting information into a digital format, which can be easily stored and accessed using computers and other electronic devices.
Transparency -: Transparency means being open and clear about how things are done, so that everyone can see and understand the process. It helps in building trust and accountability.