New Delhi, February 13: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju addressed the ongoing protests from the Opposition over the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf Amendment Bill, assuring that all dissent notes from the leaders have been included in the final report. He also dismissed claims that the report was unconstitutional or illegal.
Speaking to the media, Rijiju clarified that the entire report, along with its annexures, had been presented in the House. "If dissenting opinions cast doubts on the committee’s actions, the chairman has the authority to remove such notes if necessary, as per the rules. Members can raise concerns with the chairman if they feel something should not have been omitted," Rijiju said. "It is incorrect to label the JPC report as illegal or unconstitutional. This is not the NDA's report; it is the report of Parliament."
Rijiju emphasized that all dissent notes had been included in the report, which was presented in the Rajya Sabha and will also be tabled in the Lok Sabha.
The Opposition, led by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, has strongly criticized the report. Kharge claimed that dissent notes from Opposition members had been removed and called it undemocratic to exclude these views. "It is wrong to omit dissenting opinions and impose one-sided views. This action is anti-democratic and must be condemned. External stakeholders were brought in and their statements were recorded, yet dissenting voices were deleted. We will never accept a report that disregards these views. If the report lacks dissent, it should be sent back for re-presentation," Kharge stated.
The debate caused significant disruption in both Houses of Parliament. The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 p.m. due to Opposition protests, while the Rajya Sabha witnessed heated exchanges over the matter.
