January 27, 2025: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Monday approved the Waqf Amendment Bill, incorporating 14 amendments to the original draft. All 44 amendments proposed by opposition members were rejected, deepening the divide between the ruling BJP-led NDA and opposition parties.

The committee, chaired by BJP MP Jagadambika Pal, was initially tasked with submitting its report by November 29, 2024. However, the deadline was extended to February 13, 2025, the final day of Parliament's Budget Session.

Opposition MPs have strongly criticized the committee’s proceedings, accusing Pal of showing bias towards the ruling party. The committee's hearings have been marred by chaos, with opposition members alleging that they were not given adequate time to study the proposed changes. Last week, a group of opposition MPs wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, raising concerns that Pal was trying to rush the Waqf Amendment Bill through Parliament, particularly in light of the upcoming Delhi elections on February 5.

Adding to the tension, 10 opposition MPs were suspended during the committee’s discussions. Among those suspended were Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, both of whom have been outspoken critics of the Waqf Amendment Bill. Banerjee, in particular, had a heated altercation in October, smashing a glass bottle during a meeting in response to alleged verbal provocations from BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

The Waqf Amendment Bill itself proposes several significant changes, including the restructuring of Waqf boards, the nomination of non-Muslim and female members, and changes to the Central Waqf Council’s composition. Under the proposed amendments, the Council would include a union minister, three MPs, two ex-judges, and four individuals of national repute, all of whom would not necessarily be from the Islamic faith. Additionally, the new rules would limit the Waqf Council's ability to claim land and impose restrictions on donations from Muslims who have been practicing their faith for at least five years, a provision that has sparked controversy for its ambiguity.

The government has defended the proposed changes, arguing that they aim to empower marginalized Muslim communities, particularly women and children. Supporters of the Bill assert that these reforms will modernize the Waqf system and eliminate inefficiencies in its administration.

However, opposition leaders, including Congress' KC Venugopal, AIMIM's Owaisi, and DMK’s Kanimozhi, have condemned the amendments as an attack on minority rights and religious freedoms. They argue that the Bill violates constitutional provisions, particularly Articles 15 and 30, which protect the rights of religious communities and their ability to establish educational institutions.

With the Bill now cleared by the JPC, it will likely be debated in Parliament in the coming weeks. As the government pushes for its passage, the opposition continues to raise objections, setting the stage for a heated showdown in the final stretch of the Budget Session.