New Delhi: Tensions escalated during a recent Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting as the Dawoodi Bohra community urged for their exclusion from the Waqf Board's jurisdiction amid ongoing disputes over the Waqf Amendment Bill. The meeting, held on Tuesday, featured senior advocate Harish Salve representing the Anjuman-E-Shiate Ali Bohra, who passionately defended the community’s distinct doctrines and practices. Salve emphasized the necessity of safeguarding the Dawoodi Bohra community's faith and administrative autonomy under the leadership of al-Dai al-Mutlaq. He cited several Supreme Court decisions that acknowledge the community's unique identity and argued that the Waqf Board's powers infringe upon the fundamental rights of its members.
The advocate strongly contended that the Board should not interfere with the community's properties, particularly their places of worship, asserting that the management of these assets should remain solely with the Dawoodi Bohra community. Despite the Dawoodi Bohra community's concerns, the JPC meeting also included perspectives from various stakeholders, including representatives from Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad, Anveshak, and Madarsa Cell, who largely supported the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill while suggesting revisions. The atmosphere of the meeting was further charged by the ongoing friction between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition MPs, which prompted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to intervene.
Opposition members from Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Samajwadi Party voiced their grievances regarding JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal's management of the proceedings. They alleged that non-stakeholders were allowed to present their views while their own voices were stifled. Following a meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker, AAP MP Sanjay Singh reported that Birla assured the Opposition MPs of addressing their concerns regarding the JPC's conduct in discussing the Waqf law. This came after the Opposition had previously accused Pal of a high-handed approach, threatening to withdraw from the JPC if their grievances were not addressed. In response to the allegations, Jagdambika Pal dismissed the claims, asserting that the JPC's purpose was to facilitate discussions with all relevant stakeholders and that he had consistently provided opportunities for all members to contribute during the meetings. As the JPC continues its deliberations, with around 25 meetings held to date, it is set to visit various states post-November 9 to engage further with stakeholders regarding the Waqf law, amidst a backdrop of increasing scrutiny and controversy.
