Suspended JPC Members Accuse Chairperson Jagdambika Pal of Bias, Write to Speaker

The suspended members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill have accused the panel chairperson, BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, of humiliating them and disregarding due process. Following a heated meeting on Friday, the opposition MPs addressed a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging that their suspension came after Pal spoke to an unidentified person over the phone.

Allegations Against the Chairperson

Ten opposition members were suspended for a day during the JPC meeting on Friday. In their letter, the MPs accused Pal of “steamrolling through proceedings” and acting unilaterally. They claimed the chairperson ignored their requests to postpone the meeting, which clashed with their prior commitments.

“When the meeting began at 11 AM, we respectfully raised concerns about the chairman’s unilateral and unfair conduct. Despite our reasonable requests for postponement, the chairman refused to address our claims,” the letter stated.

Claims of Unwarranted Suspension

The MPs alleged that while they were expressing their concerns, Pal made a phone call and abruptly ordered their suspension. “While we presented our demands democratically, the chairman spoke to someone on the phone and, suddenly and surprisingly, shouted to announce our suspension,” they wrote.

They further accused Pal of rushing the proceedings without proper deliberation or consideration of stakeholders’ concerns. “The JPC requires a comprehensive study to address these issues holistically. Rushing through the proceedings without applying due thought reeks of malice,” they added.

Demand for Transparency

The MPs questioned Pal’s authority to suspend committee members, arguing that such power lies outside the jurisdiction of a JPC chairperson. They urged the Speaker to instruct Pal to ensure fairness and transparency in conducting proceedings.

“We believe that the chairman of a JPC does not have the power to suspend members. We request that future meetings provide adequate time for opposition members to present their claims by parliamentary rules and procedures,” the letter stated.

The Suspended MPs

The suspension motion, moved by BJP member Nishikant Dubey and adopted by the committee, included the following opposition MPs:

• Trinamool Congress: Banerjee and Nadeem-ul Haque
• Congress: Mohammad Jawed, Imran Masood, and Syed Naseer Hussain
• DMK: A Raja and Mohamed Abdullah
• AIMIM: Asaduddin Owaisi
• SP: Mohibullah
• Shiv Sena (UBT): Arvind Sawant

About the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on August 8, 2024, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill aims to address regulatory and management issues concerning Waqf properties. The bill was referred to the JPC for further examination, but the ongoing controversy has raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the proceedings.