Don’t submit report in haste, Muslim body slams India’s JPC approach
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has raised concerns over the approach taken by the India’s Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, urging the panel to ensure all stakeholders have a fair opportunity to voice their views and to avoid rushing the process for ‘ulterior motives’.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement issued in New Delhi, AIMPLB spokesperson Dr. SQR Ilyas said, the JPC of procedural violations, including altering dates that prevented key Muslim organizations from making their presentations. The AIMPLB argued that the JPC should only consult stakeholders directly involved with Waqf matters rather than seeking opinions from unrelated entities such as Central Ministries, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and RSS-aligned organizations.
The AIMPLB’s concerns follow a protest lodged by Opposition MPs with Speaker Om Birla, claiming JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal had been arbitrarily calling meetings and inviting individuals with no connection to Islamic or Waqf matters, sidelining critical voices within the community. Some MPs expressed their intention to “dissociate” from the process, feeling their input was being ignored.
The AIMPLB further highlighted that the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 had faced significant opposition when first introduced in Parliament, leading to its referral to the JPC for more thorough scrutiny. The AIMPLB urged the committee to consider objections from the organization and other reputable Muslim groups, excluding those “unrelated to Waqf matters.”
“We demand that the JPC should not submit its report in haste,” the AIMPLB’s statement read. “The committee must follow the prescribed guidelines and, after a comprehensive discussion among all members, present a well-considered report.”
