Waqf Bill JPC Meeting:  The meeting of the Joint Committee of Parliament formed on the Waqf Amendment Bill on Thursday (November 21, 2024) was very important in itself because this meeting of the committee was being held 3 days before the start of the upcoming winter session. According to information received from sources, during this meeting, the chairman of the committee Jagdambika Pal told the members of the committee that he is trying to end these meetings now and prepare the report as soon as possible and submit it to the House.

According to information received from sources, the committee's chairman Jagadambika Pal said that so far 26 meetings have been held in Delhi on this issue. Apart from this, dozens of meetings have also been held in different parts of the country. During these meetings, discussions have been held with all the stakeholders from different parts of the country. Jagadambika Pal said that we should try to finalize the committee's report as soon as possible and present it before the Lok Sabha Speaker.

Opposition demanded extension of tenure of the committee

However, according to information received from sources, the MPs of opposition parties present in the committee raised objections to this. Opposition MPs said that why so much haste is being shown in preparing this report. The committee members from opposition parties also talked to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in this regard and demanded from him to extend the tenure of the committee.

Opposition members will meet Om Birla on the first day of the winter session

According to information received from sources, on Monday, the first day of the winter session, the MPs of opposition parties who are members of this committee will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. According to the information coming out, during the meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the MPs of opposition parties will demand to extend the tenure of the joint committee of Parliament formed on Waqf.

The formation of JPC was announced in the last session of Parliament

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had announced the formation of a joint committee of Parliament on the Waqf Bill during the last Parliament session. This committee has a total of 31 members including Chairman Jagdambika Pal. During the formation of the committee, it was also said that the committee should present its report before the House during the first week of the winter session of Parliament.

'Draft report is also ready'

After the meeting, the committee chairman Jagdambika Pal said that our meetings are almost over and our draft report is also ready, but because the opposition MPs are constantly demanding to extend the tenure of the committee and in this regard they are talking about meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker. Therefore, we will wait to see what decision the Lok Sabha Speaker takes. According to Jagdambika Pal, because this committee was formed by the Lok Sabha Speaker with the consent of the House. Therefore, if there is any decision regarding the tenure of the committee, then it will be taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker only.

'Opposition members should give their opinion for amendment'

However, Jagadambika Pal made it clear that as the chairman of the committee, his endeavour is that before the committee report is presented to the House, a full discussion should be held with the committee members. If the opposition MPs want to bring any amendments, they should give their opinion about it to the committee and those amendments will also be fully considered.

How will the way be clear for passing the bill 

That is, whether the committee will present its report in the upcoming session or not will now depend on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Because opposition MPs are definitely trying to get the tenure of the committee extended. If the opposition MPs agree to extend the tenure of the committee, then it is possible that the report of the parliamentary committee on the Waqf Bill may not be presented in the upcoming winter session, but if the Lok Sabha Speaker does not agree to extend the tenure and rejects the opposition's demand, then it is possible that the report of the joint committee of Parliament prepared on the Waqf Amendment Bill may come to the House in the current Parliament session. If the report is presented in the House, then the way to pass that Waqf Bill will be cleared.