The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has voiced concerns over the approach of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The AIMPLB urged the committee to carefully consider input from all relevant stakeholders and not rush the process.
AIMPLB spokesperson Dr. SQR Ilyas stated that the JPC had not followed proper rules in handling the bill. “The dates were altered to prevent designated Muslim groups from making presentations,” said Dr. Ilyas, highlighting the board’s frustration with the JPC’s conduct. He added that the committee was asking for opinions from unrelated organizations, including “Central Ministries, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and RSS-backed groups.”
The AIMPLB’s concerns follow recent protests from Opposition MPs, who also raised objections with Speaker Om Birla about the committee’s actions. They claimed that JPC chairman Jagdambika Pal was inviting groups with “little connection to Islamic ideology” and expressed frustration that their own voices were being ignored.
Reflecting on the controversy, AIMPLB mentioned that when the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 was first introduced, it faced significant opposition due to the way it was “bulldozed” through Parliament, which led to it being sent to the JPC for further review.
“We demand that the objections from AIMPLB and credible Muslim organizations be seriously considered, and that groups unrelated to Waqf matters be excluded from this process,” the AIMPLB stated.
The board also requested that the JPC avoid rushing its report. “The JPC should not submit its report in haste,” AIMPLB stated, adding that a “thorough discussion” among all members should precede the report’s final presentation.
