Parliament panel meet on Waqf Bill witnesses heated arguments

A meeting of the joint committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on Friday witnessed fireworks with members vociferously opposing certain provisions of the draft legislation, leading to a brief walkout by opposition members.

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The panel, chaired by BJP member Jagadambika Pal, heard the views of All India Sunni Jamiyatul Ulama of Mumbai, Delhi-based Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR), Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and Rajasthan Board of Muslim Waqf during the day-long sitting lasting nearly eight hours.

The main bone of contention were the provisions of 'declaration of Waqf by user, designation of district collector as the primary authority in determining the classification of property as Waqf and inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and state boards.