Waqf Bill report tabled in Parliament amid Opposition uproar; dissent notes added via corrigendum

Amid an uproar and a massive showdown between NDA and Opposition members in both Houses of Parliament, the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was tabled on Thursday.

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Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed noisy protests by the Opposition, with MPs claiming that portions of their dissent notes were removed from the final report.

In the Lok Sabha, the report on the Bill, which aims to streamline the registration of Waqf properties, was tabled by JPC chairperson and BJP MP Jagadambika Pal. However, the proceedings were marred by Opposition protests as MPs trooped into the Well of the House and raised slogans.

In a bid to pacify the protesting MPs, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government had no objection if the dissent notes were added.

"Some Opposition members have objected, stating that their dissent has not been fully included. On behalf of my party, I request that the Opposition's concerns be appropriately incorporated into the parliamentary procedure. My party has no objection to this," Shah said.

Shortly after the Rajya Sabha met in the morning, the JPC report was tabled by BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni, a member of the panel, triggering an uproar from Opposition members. The commotion continued as Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar attempted to read out a message from President Droupadi Murmu, forcing a brief adjournment.

When the Upper House reconvened at 11:20 am, many Opposition members stood up and some moved toward the chairman's podium, demanding the report's withdrawal, even as Dhankhar threatened them with serious action.

Chairman Dhankhar named Samirul Islam, Nadimul Haque, and M Mohamed Abdulla for creating "chaos and disruption in the House." Kharge was then called to speak.

Leader of the Opposition and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would not accept "fake reports" that "bulldoze our views." He demanded that the report be sent back to the JPC and presented again.