India

Opposition MPs consider leaving Waqf Bill Committee amid allegations of unilateral decisions

November 4, 2024

Opposition MPs of the parliamentary panel scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill have indicated that they may dissociate themselves from the committee alleging that its chairperson was taking “unilateral” decisions to “bulldoze” the proceedings. They are scheduled to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the panel would listen to the views of RSS-affiliated lawyers group ABAP and renowned lawyer Harish Salve, who would be representing a group of Bohra Muslims. It would be interesting to see the how Salve responds to the sharp arguments and queries of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, a lawyer himself, who is also a member of the committee and who is strongly opposing the bill.

Opposition members have alleged that they have been “stonewalled” during the committee’s proceedings. In a letter addressed to Birla, opposition MPs have listed their grievances, including their objections against the proposed law.

Opposition sources said that they have prepared a joint letter, signed by a number of MPs that will be submitted to the Speaker on Tuesday.

They accused Pal, a four-term MP representing the BJP, of taking “unilateral decisions“.