Chaos in Parliament Over Waqf (Amendment) Bill: Opposition Slams JPC Report

The tabling of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill sparked chaos in both Houses of Parliament on Thursday, leading to repeated disruptions and a war of words between the Opposition and the ruling party.

The uproar began in the Rajya Sabha immediately after the report was presented, forcing an adjournment until 11:20 AM. When proceedings resumed, Opposition MPs continued their protests, prompting Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to reprimand them.

"You should learn some basic manners," Dhankhar told the protesting MPs, as the government condemned the Opposition’s actions. Health Minister JP Nadda criticized the disruptions, calling them an attempt to derail parliamentary proceedings.

At 2 PM, when the report was tabled in the Lok Sabha, it was again met with fierce opposition. Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded the report be withdrawn unless dissent notes from Opposition MPs were included. He urged Dhankhar to send the report back to the JPC for revision. "You have the power to refuse this report," Kharge argued.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the JPC report, dismissing Opposition allegations that key comments had been altered or removed. Calling the claims "false and misleading," Rijiju accused the Opposition of attempting to mislead the House. He insisted that the report accurately reflected the committee's discussions and amendments.

Tensions escalated further when Dhankhar lashed out at Opposition members for continuous interruptions, bluntly asking them, "Will you keep it shut?" His remark deepened the rift between both sides as the heated debate continued.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also joined the attack on the Opposition, accusing them of deliberately spreading misinformation and obstructing the legislative process.

The JPC, chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, had submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on January 31 after a 15-11 majority vote in favor of the amendments. The Opposition claims the BJP’s changes to the bill aim to weaken Waqf boards and interfere with their autonomy.

Dissent notes from Opposition members criticized the amendments as an attack on the constitutional rights of the Muslim community. However, BJP members defended the bill, arguing it would bring modernity, transparency, and accountability to Waqf property management.

As the controversy deepens, the INDIA bloc has vowed to challenge the bill, setting the stage for a fresh political showdown in the coming days.