Mian Altaf: No brief from the party but I’ll oppose it tooth and nail
Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference’s both the Lok Sabha members, Aga Syed Ruhullah and Mian Altaf Ahmad, are understood to strongly oppose the proposed amendments to the Waqf Bill which is likely to come up for discussion and consideration in the Budget session of the Parliament in the middle of February.
Well-placed political sources revealed to NEWS NOW that both the MPs, who incidentally belong to the Muslim clergy dynasties holding some Wafq properties in the Union Territory, would be strongly opposing the draft of the Bill which was finalised on Wednesday by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) after a series of discussion with select MPs and clerics.
The clerics who were granted a hearing in New Delhi included a seven-member delegation from Kashmir which was led by the Awami Action Committee and Anjuman Nusratul Islam head Mirwaiz Maulvi Umar Farooq.
While the JPC was finalising the draft, which is known to have rejected most of the points raised by the opposition and the Muslim clergy, Aga Ruhullah called on Mirwaiz in the Union Capital on Wednesday. Sources said that the two leaders discussed a number of issues in the NC MP’s “courtesy call”, including their unanimous opposition to the BJP-sponsored Waqf Bill.
While Aga and Mirwaiz were not reachable on telephone, Mian Altaf Ahmad told NEWS NOW that he had already delivered a speech in opposition of the proposed legislation when the Bill was introduced in the Parliament. “My stand is crystal clear and unflinching on day one. This Bill is not in the interests of our community and we will oppose it tooth and nail. We have no brief from our party but any kind of compromise on it is out of question”, the MP from Anantnag-Rajouri asserted.
The JPC headed by the BJP MP Jagdambika Pal adopted the final draft in New Delhi on Wednesday as 14 members voted in favour of it and 11 registered their opposition On Monday, the JPC approved 14 amendments proposed by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), rejecting all 44 changes submitted by Opposition MPs, which sparked outrage from political parties.
One key amendment empowers state governments to appoint an officer to determine whether a property is Waqf, replacing the District Collector who initially had absolute authority. Under the Waqf Act of 1995, this power was vested in survey commissioners and additional commissioners.
The committee also dropped the “mandatory” inclusion of two non-Muslim members in Waqf Boards and proposed a restructured composition, increasing membership to three, including a scholar.
Chairman Jagdambika Pal, while speaking to reporters, said it was the final meeting of the panel and that 14 amendments were cleared based on majority votes.
“In the past six months, we discussed numerous amendments. All were put to vote today, and members gave their verdict with 16 voting in favour while 14 opposed,” Pal said.
The committee proceedings have frequently descended into chaos, with Opposition members accusing the chairman of bias and undue haste to favour the ruling party.
In a joint statement, 11 Opposition MPs criticized the “autocratic” conduct of Jagdambika Pal, accusing him of rushing the process for political motives ahead of upcoming Assembly elections.
“As deliberations conclude, we formally register our protest against the chairman’s conduct and gross deviations from established parliamentary rules and procedures,” the statement read.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi dismissed these allegations, asserting that every member was given “ample time and was heard out.”
Initially expected by November 29, the JPC’s recommendations deadline was extended until February 13.
