Waqf Bill JPC head: ‘There was high-intensity gatirodh (standoff) at the start… now even Opposition satisfied’

Ahead of the Budget Session, committee chairperson Jagdambika Pal, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, speaks to The Indian Express. Excerpts:

So will the committee submit its report in the Budget Session?

I am sure. We held 34 meetings in Delhi; travelled to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow; and met all the stakeholders, state government officials, waqf boards, minority commissions, high court lawyers, Islamic scholars, former judges, vice chancellors, members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and different tanzeems (organisations). Such an extensive exercise would never have happened in the past for any other Bill. In visits to these states, we also called stakeholders of adjoining states. Everyone in the country got the opportunity to give suggestions on the proposed amendments.

The report is ready… we will table it in the Budget Session. We had sought suggestions from the members by January 22. They have the right to accept these proposed amendments or dissent or give any suggestions, which will be circulated among all the committee members on January 23. Then we will hold clause-by-clause discussions on every amendment on January 24 and 25. On January 25, a draft report will be sent to the legislative branch, which will send it back after checking its legislative form. Then we will approve it. If there is any dissent note, we will circulate it once again. Then, a meeting will be held by January 27 so that we can finally approve the report before tabling it.

So the entire exercise will be complete before the Budget Session begins?

Yes. We initially had to present this report in the Winter Session (last year). But at the time, the committee had not toured all the states, and several stakeholders wanted to meet. The Speaker (Om Birla) extended the tenure from the Winter to the Budget Session. Now, our report is also ready, and we are ready for a clause-by-clause discussion.

Several members of the committee would have opinions against the Bill, likewise the stakeholders… Are you sure of a consensus?

I am sure of one because we have done so many meetings. All the members (of the committee) gave their opinions, suggestions were given by all stakeholders and organisations. There was a high-intensity gatirodh (standoff) in the beginning, but after deliberations and discussions, things are being smoothed out now.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill proposes transparency. The intention of the waqif (donor) is to give his property as waqf to benefit the poor, Pasmanda Muslims, khawateen (women) in education and health. But it is seen today that waqf is for mutawallis (overseers) and owners only. Where are medical and engineering colleges being built on waqf properties? It’s clear that the purpose for which a waqif is giving property as waqf is not being met. To bring transparency, the Centre has introduced the amendments.

Earlier, NDA allies like the JD(U) and TDP too had concerns about the Bill. After the meetings of the committee, have they changed their mind?

I feel that not only the allies, but also Opposition members are satisfied with our exercise. They feel the extensive exercise has been done to make a better piece of legislation and a historic law. Jab manthan hoga to amrit niklega hi niklega (when the churning is done, nectar is sure to come out). For me, no one in the committee is from the ruling or Opposition side… they are all committee members. Everyone’s objective is that a good report is tabled and a good law is made.

Earlier it was said the committee had received more than a crore suggestions from across the country. But the All India Muslim Personal Law Board claimed more than three crore suggestions were sent. What is the actual figure?

More than one crore suggestions have come in different forms like email, post and courier. Several people gave me memoranda personally.

How were these suggestions scrutinised?

The Speaker had provided 40 staff members and every single suggestion was scrutinised. Several suggestions were one-liners either approving or disapproving of the Bill. There were several suggestions with documents suggesting amendments on clauses. We put up these suggestions before the committee. That exercise took three months to complete. A room in Parliament was full of suggestions and the staff to examine them.

But I will also say that a campaign was run. People like Zakir Naik (an Islamic scholar) appealed to the public to send emails to the committee portal to disapprove (of the Bill), with the objective that if one crore people send disapproving emails, the Bill will get disapproved. Such forces were active. An atmosphere was created that if this Bill is passed, mosques, graveyards, imambaras (gathering halls), and idgahs will be taken away. It created confusion. People spread rumours about the Bill and prominent leaders too issued such statements.

Committee member and BJP leader Nishikant Dubey wrote to you calling for a probe into the geographical origin of these suggestions. Did you find that the suggestions came from outside India?

I took cognisance of his letter and wrote to the Union Home Ministry that the forces behind that (the emails) be inquired into. An inquiry is ongoing.

Opposition members on several occasions walked out of committee meetings and also alleged that you did not follow the rules and procedures.

If someone has to oppose and or has decided to set an agenda, I do not feel bad for their opposition or allegations against me. Earlier it was said that work was not being done. Then they started complaining that a lot of meetings were happening, two or three days every week, and meetings lasting up to eight hours. If I called meetings two or three times in a week, then I worked in the interest of the committee and the Bill. Meetings were held for long hours because we gave everyone an opportunity. At last, the common people of the country are satisfied. People had tried to create an atmosphere in the country. I am happy that such an atmosphere no longer prevails. Ordinary Muslims understand that this amendment Bill will not deprive them of any of their religious rights.