Opposition MPs boycotted Waqf Committee meeting, expressed objection to allegations against Kharge

New Delhi: Several MPs from opposition parties on Monday boycotted the meeting of the parliamentary committee considering the Waqf (Amendment) Bill after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was accused of being involved in the Waqf land scams. Along with this, opposition MPs alleged that the parliamentary committee is not working as per the rules. During the joint committee meeting of Parliament, there was a heated argument between BJP and opposition members and it was chaotic. Members of opposition parties questioned the logic behind calling members of Hindu groups to discuss the law related to Muslims.

Opposition MPs protested

Opposition MPs walked out in protest against the presentation by Anwar Maniappadi, former chairman of Karnataka State Minorities Commission and Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation. he/she is also the former vice president of Karnataka BJP. Maniappadi named several Karnataka Congress leaders and others, including Kharge and Rahman Khan, for their alleged involvement in taking over Waqf properties.

‘Such allegations cannot be made against people holding high positions’

The opposition MPs, citing the rules of procedure of parliamentary committees, claimed that unproven allegations cannot be made against ‘persons holding high positions’ in the meetings of such committees. he/she said Maniappadi appealed to Muslims not to oppose the bill. According to him/her, this appeal was also not in accordance with the rules.

Committee chairman rejected the objections

An opposition MP said allegations cannot be made against someone who is not present at the meeting to defend himself. Committee chairperson and BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, however, dismissed their objections and allowed the discussion to continue. A BJP member said the presentation is relevant to the bill because Maniappadi’s claim pertains to Waqf properties.

These leaders expressed protest

Opposition MPs, including Congress’s Gaurav Gogoi and Imran Masood, DMK’s A Raja, Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, Samajwadi Party’s Mohibullah and Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh came out of the meeting and expressed their concern against its proceedings. . Sawant said that the committee is not working as per the rules. Opposition members later held a separate meeting to decide the further course of action. It is expected that he/she will write a letter to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday regarding the functioning of the committee.

Committee called Hindu organizations for statement

The committee had called several organizations and activists associated with Hindu issues for statements, which was opposed by the opposition members. he/she objected to Hindu organizations being called to express their views and said that they have no interference in Waqf issues, which concern Muslims. However, sources in the ruling BJP said that these organizations and activists are raising the issue of how the Waqf law affects non-Muslim properties, including properties belonging to temples. he/she said that when the committee has decided to conduct such wide consultation then they should have their say.

Sources said that Owaisi wrote a letter to Pal regarding the invitation sent to Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and alleged that these organizations follow extremist ideologies. The Hyderabad MP, in a letter to Pal, alleged that the stated aim of these organizations was to create a Hindu nation and that they had openly ‘adopted violent methods and raised the voice of rebellion against the Union of India’. Others called to report by the committee included lawyers Vishnu Shankar Jain and Ashwini Upadhyay and Mahant Sudhirdas Maharaj of Kalaram Temple in Nashik, Maharashtra. Mahmood Madani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind also appeared before the committee. his/her organization has been opposing the proposed amendments in the Waqf Bill.