JPC Chairman Defends Controversial Waqf Amendment Bill Tours Amid Criticism

JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal defends study tours related to the Waqf Amendment Bill, rejecting impropriety allegations and emphasizing informal discussions. He accused Karnataka's government of overstepping power, while Congress critics decry exclusion from dialogue amid ongoing land dispute protests.

In a staunch defense of the Joint Parliamentary Committee's (JPC) study tours, Chairman Jagdambika Pal on Sunday dismissed allegations against the propriety of these tours connected to the Waqf Amendment Bill. Speaking to ANI, Pal contended that the presence of every committee member is not mandatory during these activities, aligning this with regular parliamentary sessions where full attendance is rare.

Pal explained that the purpose of these tours is to offer platforms for inclusive dialogue among administration, waqf boards, minority commissions, and other stakeholders, underscoring that these are designed as informal discussion forums without the need for a quorum. He expressed concerns over the increased notices to Karnataka farmers from the Waqf Board and criticized the state government's minority minister for exceeding his authority by initiating Waqf tribunals statewide.

Amid his visit to Karnataka, Pal addressed a protest backed by BJP personalities against alleged unauthorized land designations to the Waqf Board. Meanwhile, JPC member Brij Lal criticized opposition members for what he termed as a politically motivated disruption of JPC meetings, reaffirming the bill's objective to curb unlawful land grabs under Waqf. Congress MP Jaiwaid voiced dissatisfaction with being sidelined, revealing a significant portion of the committee's boycott over perceived one-sided proceedings.

(With inputs from agencies.)