Opposition MPs threaten to quit Parl Waqf panel

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NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs, who are part of the joint parliamentary panel scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, on Monday wrote to Speaker Om Birla, to mark their protest against the panel’s chairperson and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal’s allegedly unilateral working style.

They have said they may disassociate themselves from the functioning of the panel. Birla is scheduled to meet the dissenting MPs on Tuesday to discuss the matter, sources aware of the development said.

In a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the opposition lawmakers alleged that Pal attempted to “bulldoze” the proceedings and takes “unilateral” decisions.

They further claimed that their efforts are often stonewalled during the panel’s meetings. The opposition MPs have listed their grievances, including objections against the proposed law, in the letter addressed to Birla.

Opposition sources said they have prepared a joint letter signed by a number of MPs, including Congress’ Mohammad Jawed and Imran Masood, DMK’s Raja, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, AAP’s Sanjay Singh and TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee that will be submitted to the Speaker on Tuesday.

The Opposition MPs have accused Pal of taking “unilateral decisions” on fixing the dates for sittings which at times prolonged for three consecutive days and whom to call witnesses. They said it was not practically possible for MPs to interact with deposers with adequate preparation.

In their joint letter, opposition MPs will urge Birla to direct Pal to have a formal consultation with members of the committee before taking any decision to assure the country that the committee was functioning in a free and fair manner. “Otherwise, we humbly submit that we may be forced to disassociate with the committee once and for all as we have been stonewalled,” the Opposition MPs have stated.

Asserting that the joint committee of the Parliament examining the Bill is like a mini-Parliament, they said the panel should not be treated as a mere “ventilating chamber” to get the proposed legislation passed as desired by the government, ignoring the due process.