On the last day of the first phase of the Budget Session, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report was presented in Parliament, triggering a heated debate. The opposition raised objections over the removal of dissenting opinions and subsequently staged a walkout.
JPC Report on Waqf Amendment Bill Sparks Uproar
The presentation of the JPC report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill led to a major uproar in both houses of Parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, BJP MP Medha Kulkarni presented the report, while in the Lok Sabha, JPC Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal tabled it.
The opposition strongly objected to the report, alleging that their dissenting opinions had been removed. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, called the report “fraudulent” and “unconstitutional,” emphasizing that removing dissenting views was unacceptable. AAP MP Sanjay Singh questioned, “We expressed our views, which one may agree or disagree with, but how can they be discarded?”
Government’s Response to the Controversy
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the issue, stating, “Some opposition members raised concerns about their views not being included. I want to clarify that under parliamentary procedures, they are free to add anything they wish, and our party has no objections.”
On February 2, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain shared excerpts from the JPC report on social media, alleging that portions of his dissenting note were edited without his knowledge. He called it “shocking” and accused the JPC of lowering its standards further.
New Income Tax Bill Introduced in Lok Sabha
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced a new Income Tax Bill in the Lok Sabha. The government claimed that the bill aims to simplify the existing Income Tax Act, 1961, making it more accessible to the public and reducing litigation.
The new bill is more concise, with 536 sections across 23 chapters and 16 schedules, compared to the current act, which contains 298 sections and 14 schedules over 880 pages.
Key Updates from Parliament
- Jagdambika Pal’s Statement (11:03 AM, Feb 13, 2025): JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal assured that the opposition’s dissenting notes would be included in the report. He questioned whether a walkout was necessary despite this assurance.
- Amit Shah’s Clarification (10:13 AM, Feb 13, 2025): The Home Minister reaffirmed that opposition members could include their views in the JPC report without restrictions.
- Owaisi’s Objection (10:09 AM, Feb 13, 2025): AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi argued that the bill violates Articles 14, 15, and 29 of the Constitution and is designed to seize Waqf properties from Muslims.
- Dimple Yadav’s Criticism (10:00 AM, Feb 13, 2025): SP MP Dimple Yadav accused the government of presenting the report on the last day of the session to divert attention.
- Opposition Walkout (06:43 AM, Feb 13, 2025): During discussions on the JPC report, opposition members staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha.
Parliament Session Adjourned
On the final day of the first phase of the Budget Session, the Lok Sabha was adjourned until March 10. The Budget Session is being conducted in two phases: the first phase concluded on February 13, followed by a recess from February 14 to March 9. The second phase will commence on March 10 and continue until April 4.
Political Reactions and Accusations
- JP Nadda’s Remarks (06:37 AM, Feb 13, 2025): BJP President JP Nadda accused the opposition of playing politics and attempting to divide the country. He asserted that the JPC chairman had the authority to make deletions.
- Kiren Rijiju’s Statement (06:32 AM, Feb 13, 2025): Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that no parts of the report were removed and questioned the basis of the opposition’s allegations.
- Mallikarjun Kharge’s Allegations (06:06 AM, Feb 13, 2025): The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha reiterated that the JPC report was “fake and unconstitutional,” demanding its re-presentation with the original dissenting notes intact.
Conclusion
The controversy over the JPC report on the Waqf Amendment Bill has sparked significant political turmoil. While the government maintains that opposition views can still be included, the opposition insists that the exclusion of dissenting notes is a serious procedural violation. With Parliament set to resume in March, further debates and confrontations on this issue are expected.
