Opposition walks out during Waqf Amendment bill JPC meeting

Several Opposition members staged a brief walkout from the Joint Committee meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill on Monday, voicing objections over a presentation by the Delhi Waqf Board. The walkout followed claims that the board’s administrator, Ashwini Kumar, made significant changes to the report without informing the Delhi government, leading to a protest from various Opposition MPs.

According to Opposition members, Ashwini Kumar, who also serves as the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Delhi Waqf Board Administrator, presented an altered version of the original Waqf Board report. Members of the Opposition asserted that the alterations were made without prior approval from Delhi’s Chief Minister, raising concerns about transparency and procedural integrity.

Prominent figures among those who walked out included Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), DMK’s Mohammed Abdulla, and Congress MPs Naseer Hussain and Mohamed Jawed. These members objected to what they saw as an infringement on the autonomy of the Delhi Waqf Board and a lack of communication with the Delhi administration.

The changes to the report presented during the meeting reportedly caught Opposition members by surprise. The representatives felt the modifications were an attempt to bypass the involvement of the elected Delhi government. This sparked a heated exchange within the Committee and ultimately led to the brief walkout.

Despite the protest, Opposition MPs returned to the meeting later to resume discussions on the Waqf Amendment Bill. The bill, which addresses the governance and functioning of Waqf boards across the country, has been under scrutiny for various provisions that some argue could impact the autonomy of local Waqf boards.

This incident highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill, with the Opposition expressing concerns about governance overreach. Opposition members continue to demand transparency and accountability in the handling of reports and presentations, particularly when they directly affect state-administered bodies.