New Delhi: Sources claim that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) looking at the Waqf Amendment Bill would miss the deadline for the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, which starts on January 30.
The BJP MP Jagadambika Pal's committee, which missed the first deadline of the just-ended winter session of Parliament, is expected to give its report on the final day of the Budget session.
On February 12, the budget session is anticipated to end. As the committee will not be able to finish its work by the specified deadline, the Centre may now push the report for the Monsoon session, those with knowledge of the proceedings said.
According to sources, the planned legislation is also opposed strongly by NDA partners the Telugu Desam Party and the Janata Dal (United). Several Muslim groups in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have opposed the majority of the revisions, notably the appointment of non-Muslim members to the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards.
“The government has not given any assurance to TDP or JD (U) on bringing any changes in the contentious proposals. The JD(U) does not want to risk its electoral prospects in view of the impending assembly elections in Bihar,” said a party leader, adding that the TDP and JD(U) enjoy a strong support base of minorities in their states, TNIE reported.
Though the administration had scheduled the Waqf Bill for passage during the winter session, the panel requested an extension following a standoff with the opposition.
Speaking to this daily, a panel member stated that the committee will be unable to reach the deadline since recording the concerns of lakhs of witnesses will take time.
“The chairman is under pressure from the Opposition to hear out stakeholders who have real concerns. The committee has not followed due process till now,” said an Opposition member.