'Undemocratic': Oppn slams Pal on Waqf JPC's functioning

Opposition members of the joint parliamentary committee on Waqf Amendment Bill said that a rejection by panel chief of the amendments proposed by them undermined efforts to protect constitutional assurances to minorities.

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI:

The JPC approved 14 amendments to the Waqf (Amendments) Bill by a majority on Monday (16 votes to 10), controversially rejecting all amendments put forth by members from opposition parties, and accepting those put forth by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies.

Following the development, opposition members accused panel chair Jagdambika Pal of being "undemocratic" in the committee's functioning.

"Opposition MPs on Monday proposed amendments in all 44 clauses of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, seeking to mostly restore the provisions of the current Act," the panel's opposition members said in a joint statement.