New Delhi (TIP)- With Opposition members saying that they will meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday to seek an extension to submit a report of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, the panel’s Chairman Jagdambika Pal said Thursday, Nov 21, that the “draft report is ready” and that “he hopes that members of the committee can reach a consensus” on the Bill.
Speaking to mediapersons after a meeting of the committee on Thursday, Pal said: “We had called the Ministry of Minority Affairs for today’s (Thursday) meeting. The meeting lasted six hours. They gave a detailed explanation on the 44 amendments to the Waqf Bill. Before this, the Minority Affairs Ministry had deposed before the committee on 22nd (August) for 6.15 hours, and for 6.15 hours on October 15. On October 21, they deposed for seven hours. On October 29, they deposed for 3.15 hours. This way, in these sittings, our committee members have had the opportunity to ask questions as per each clause… The Ministry has answered them.”
“Over five days for 29 hours, they got the chance to ask questions. After detailed deliberations, a good report will be prepared. I hope that all members of the committee will together hold discussions on clauses and we can reach an agreement. After the agreement, we hope to submit a good report in Parliament,” he said, adding that there will be more meetings. The deadline to submit the report is November 29.
Responding to the Opposition members seeking an extension, Pal said: “The Opposition was saying that here also. They have the right to meet the Speaker. But I feel the JPC worked, we are prepared. This Bill was referred to us by the Speaker and the Speaker’s decision will be followed.”
He added that 25 meetings have been held with various stakeholders like former judges, Islamic scholars, vice-chancellors, AIMPLB, Zakaat Foundation, and Bharat First since its formation in August. The first meeting was held on August 22.
An Opposition member said the submission of the report on November 29 “will be against principles of democracy”. “If the committee Chairman decides to submit the report, it will go against the idea of the committee. Recently, a study tour was cancelled. More deliberations and conversation need to be held before we can submit the report. Also, if the report is submitted on Friday, when will members of the PAC get a chance to read it and raise issues,” the member said.
Tag: Om Birla
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Waqf House panel chief says draft report ready, Opposition seeks extension
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Speaker recognizes Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI (TIP): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, June 26, recognized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha. The recognition has come into effect from June 9.
A Lok Sabha secretariat notification on Wednesday, June 26, said the Speaker has recognized Rahul Gandhi, leader of Indian National Congress, as the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha “with effect from June 9, in terms of Section 2 of the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act 1977.”
This is the first time in 10 years that the Lok Sabha has got a Leader of Opposition — a post for which the claimant party must win 10 per cent seats of the House strength of 543. In 2014 and 2019, the largest Opposition party, Congress, had 44 and 52 MPs respectively, short of the strength needed to officially claim the LoP post.
In his first constitutional role, Gandhi will sit in high-powered committees alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appoint top officials — Lokpal, Chief Election Commissioner, CBI chief, Central Vigilance Commissioner, Central Information Commission members, NHRC chief. Gandhi will also get Cabinet rank and an office in the new Parliament.
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Revive MPLAD scheme in its true spirit and release funds, Om Birla urged
New Delhi (TIP) : Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday, May 27, wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to restart the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme and make MPLAD funds available to MPs. Chowdhury said it is critical to have access to MPLAD funds because of the second wave of Covid-19 and the devastation caused by the cyclonic storm Yaas that made its landfall in Odisha and impacted neighboring Bengal. The MP from Bengal said the funds are the “only way” by which “the Members of Parliament can truly come to the aid of their constituents in their hour of grief and extreme need”. “While the second wave of the pandemic has brought unimaginable miseries, the people of Odisha and West Bengal are on the verge of facing the devastating affects of Yaas. The critical impact the cyclonic storm would have on the intensity of the pandemic in West Bengal and Odisha in particular remains to be seen in the coming days. There is a distinct possibility of a significant increase in the Covid-19 infection rate in the region in the coming days,” Chowdhury wrote. He said the funds should be made available without any restrictions so that the “amounts are rightly channeled to address the health care needs of the people in these uncertain and extremely sad times”.