Opposition, BJP MPs spar at JPC meet on waqf bill

Minorities affairs ministry Monday made an extensive presentation at a parliamentary panel meeting to address the queries of MPs on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, with opposition arguing that the ministry’s consultations over the years never called for a new law. A batch of pleas in SC challenging the insertion of words ‘ socialist ’ and ‘ secular ’ in Constitution in 1976 also cast a shadow on the meeting as heated words were exchanged after opposition MPs questioned the panel’s decision to seek depositions from some lawyers behind the plea, drawing reaction from BJP. A BJP MP said all Indians are stakeholders in any proposed law, and the panel in its wisdom can call anyone it deems fit to offer any valuable suggestion. The Waqf law has impacted many non-Muslims, he claimed.

Advocates Ashwini Upadhyay , a BJP member, and Vishnu Shankar Jain are among those behind the SC pleas.