Government Faces Lawmakers' Scrutiny Over Waqf Amendment Bill

Top government officials faced intense questioning from lawmakers about the Waqf Amendment Bill during a parliamentary panel meeting. Opposition members argued that ministries were not independently evaluating the bill but merely agreeing with the official stance. The officials presented information regarding Waqf properties in the National Capital Region, sparking heated discussions.

Top government officials on Thursday faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers during a parliamentary panel meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill. Opposition members accused the ministries involved of not taking an independent stance on the legislation and simply echoing the official line.

The Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was briefed about Waqf properties in the National Capital Region and land parcels under the ministries of road transport and railways. Presentations were made by Urban Affairs and Road Transport Secretary Anurag Jain, Railway Board Chairman Satish Gautam, and other officials.

Heated discussions ensued between BJP and opposition members, including TMC's Kalyan Banerjee and AAP's Sanjay Singh, necessitating intervention from committee chairman Jagadambika Pal. The ministries argued that the bill would facilitate faster development projects by removing encroachments on government lands, but opposition members countered that existing laws already provide mechanisms to contest Waqf property notifications.

(With inputs from agencies.)