Amid Parl logjam, govt accepts Opposition demand for extension to Waqf panel

While parliamentary proceedings got washed out for the second consecutive day on Wednesday amid protests by Congress-led Opposition on Gautam Adani’s bribery indictment and Sambhal violence in Uttar Pradesh, the Centre offered an olive branch by acceding to its demands for extending the deadline for presenting the report on Waqf Bill by a joint Parliamentary panel till the Budget session and holding a discussion on the Constitution in Rajya Sabha.

During the meeting of the joint panel headed by MP Jagdambika Pal, which went on till late Wednesday evening, the Opposition members’ demand for extending the deadline of submitting the report on the controversial legislation, was accepted and accordingly a motion will be moved in Lok Sabha on November 28 by Pal and BJP MP Dilip Saikia, seeking the lower house’s nod for the extension.

The panel decided to extend the deadline till the last day of the Budget session of Parliament in 2025.

In another development, during the meeting of Rajya Sabha’s business advisory committee (BAC), leader of the House JP Nadda accepted the Congress’ request of holding a two-day discussion on the Constitution. The opposition party had raised the demand during the all-party meeting held on the eve of the commencement of the Winter Session of Parliament on November 24.

Meanwhile, the meeting of the joint panel on Waqf Amendment Bill was not without its share of drama as the opposition members staged a walkout from the proceedings soon after it had begun around 3 pm.

The provocation was apparently due to Pal indicating that the panel had finalised its report on the bill and it wants to submit it to the Speaker on November 29, the original deadline of doing so. Even BJP members reportedly supported his move.

Congress MP and deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi alleged, while speaking to mediapersons after walking out of the meeting, that despite Speaker Om Birla’s assurance on deadline extension, the panel chairman seems to be listening to some senior minister and says that his report is ready.

However, the panel during the meeting decided to extend the deadline and the protesting opposition members were called to inform them of the decision.