Opposition MPs walk out of Waqf Bill committee meeting, cite 'personal attacks'

Opposition MPs staged a boycott of the parliamentary committee meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, citing procedural violations and unwarranted personal allegations.

In Short

• Opposition MPs claim Parliament committee not following rules
• Key protestors include Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), AAP and others
• Allege personal attacks on leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge

Several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a boycott on Monday, walking out of a meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) tasked with examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

The MPs accused the committee of failing to adhere to proper rules and regulations, raising serious concerns over its functioning.

Among those leading the protest were Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi and Imran Masood, DMK's A Raja, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Arvind Sawant, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, Samajwadi Party's Mohibbullah, and Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh.

The opposition members left the meeting, voicing strong objections to the way the panel's proceedings were being conducted.

Speaking to reporters after the walkout, Arvind Sawant alleged that the committee was not operating in line with established parliamentary norms. He expressed frustration that personal allegations had been allowed during the session, particularly targeting senior opposition leaders like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

"We have boycotted because the committee is not functioning with the principles and norms of the committee. Ethically and principally they are wrong," he said.

Sawant and other opposition MPs also criticised the committee for permitting such allegations to be raised by leaders of the ruling coalition deposed before the panel.

The controversy erupted after a presentation by Anwar Manippadi, former Chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission, whose testimony strayed beyond the scope of the Waqf Bill, according to the opposition.

The MPs alleged that Manippadi’s remarks included unwarranted accusations against the Karnataka government and Mallikarjun Kharge, leading to further discord.

Later, opposition members convened a separate meeting to determine their next steps, with some suggesting that they may seek intervention from the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Despite the boycott, the committee, chaired by veteran BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, continued its proceedings without the presence of opposition members.

The Waqt Act of 1995 was established to oversee waqf properties but has been plagued by allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments for many years.

In response, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 aims to implement comprehensive reforms, including digitization, more rigorous audits, increased transparency, and a legal framework to recover unlawfully occupied properties.

The committee has submitted its report to the Lok Sabha, which will be considered during the first week of the upcoming Parliament session.