Bhubaneswar: Parliament is set to witness a tense face-off between Treasury and Opposition benches on Wednesday as the central government is looking to discuss the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
Along with the Opposition INDIA bloc, the BJD, which announced to play the role of a strong and constructive opposition after the party’s debacle in the twin elections last year, has decided to oppose it, citing serious concerns over excessive state control, lack of procedural safeguards, and ambiguity in dispute resolution.
BJD leader Sasmit Patra said that the party is concerned about whether opposition voices have been considered.
“The BJD has serious concerns about the Waqf Amendment Bill. We have had several reservations about this bill earlier, and we feel that the way this bill is being bulldozed is not appropriate. It should have been better addressed,” he told the media on Tuesday.
Patra argued that the bill grants sweeping powers to the state government in determining the status of Waqf land, which could lead to undue interference. He also highlighted the absence of legal and institutional support for Waqf bodies, exposing them to bureaucratic delays and mismanagement. “The bill also fails to provide a truly independent appellate mechanism, potentially leading to arbitrary classification of Waqf properties,” he added.
Reiterating BJD’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of all communities and ensuring transparent and just governance, he said that the party will participate in the discussion of the Bill.
Rajya Sabha member Muzibulla Khan will speak on the Bill.
The bill, which aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995, will be tabled by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju after Question Hour and it will be followed by an eight-hour discussion. The Centre has maintained that the amendments are aimed at improving the management of Waqf properties in India.
