MP Aga Ruhullah Meets Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in Delhi, Discusses Waqf Amendment Bill and Key Issues

MP Aga Ruhullah Meets Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in Delhi, Discusses Waqf Amendment Bill and Key Issues

Local News

Delhi, Jan 29: In a significant political engagement, Member of Parliament Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi met Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the Waqf Amendment Bill and other pressing issues, sources confirmed.

According to sources, the meeting was a courtesy call, as Aga Ruhullah is in the capital for the upcoming Budget session. Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is also in Delhi following his recent delegation visit as part of the Mutahida Majlis Ulema (MMU) to meet Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill last week.

The discussion reportedly centered on the controversial amendments to the Waqf Bill, which have sparked debates between the opposition and the ruling BJP-led government. The bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 8, 2024, was referred to the JPC after facing opposition over its proposed clauses, including:

  • Restructuring the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards
  • Restricting the powers of Waqf Boards
  • Mandatory registration of Waqf properties with district collectors

Last Friday, the MMU delegation led by Mirwaiz submitted a detailed memorandum to the JPC, outlining concerns over the bill’s impact on Waqf properties and administration.

The meeting between Mirwaiz and Aga Ruhullah holds significant political weight, marking the first such engagement between Mirwaiz and a sitting MP since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories in August 2019.

Notably, on Monday, the JPC voted in favor of 14 key amendments to the bill, including distinguishing between the mandatory inclusion of two non-Muslim members and nominated ex-officio members (Muslim or non-Muslim). These amendments were proposed by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Tejasvi Surya, and Aparajita Sarangi. With a 16-10 majority, the ruling party and its allies secured passage of the changes, rejecting proposals from opposition members.

The JPC adopted its final draft report today, which will be submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tomorrow, paving the way for further debates and decisions in Parliament.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *