JPC on Waqf Bill postpones study tour to Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow as members busy in election
Bhubaneswar, Nov 11: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has postponed its study tour to Kolkata Patna, and Lucknow as many of its members are busy in elections, the panel chief said on Monday.
The JPC has completed its first phase of study tour to states like Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat to hear the versions of stakeholders on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Opposition members boycotted the second phase tour, which started on November 9 and was scheduled to end on November 14. The panel held its meetings at Guwahati on Saturday and here on Monday.
“Many of my colleagues informed us that they have engagements in state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Besides, by-polls are there in many states. So, they were not able to attend the meeting. On their request, I have decided to postpone the study tour,” JPC's Chairman Jagdambika Pal said here.
He said the study tour to Kolkata, Patna, and Lucknow will be rescheduled.
“We wish that all members of the panel should participate in the deliberations,” he added.
He said that the JPC had a ‘very successful’ meeting in Bhubaneswar on Monday and also in Guwahati two days ago.
During the day, the JPC held discussions with representatives from the Odisha government, state minority commission, state Waqf board, senior advocates, social activists and other stakeholders from the state for more than eight hours, Pal said.
"The stakeholders have given their views and opinions on the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Our Joint Parliamentary Committee will examine the views and incorporate the contents in its report", he told media persons earlier in the day.
Pal said it is the responsibility of the JPC to hear the stakeholders of Odisha and it is doing so.
"Whether someone has joined or not, it doesn't make any difference," he said when asked about the absence of the opposition members in the meeting.
The committee will submit its report to the Lok Sabha Speaker by the last working day of the upcoming winter session of the Parliament, he said.
The opposition members of the JPC had decided to boycott this tour, alleging that the chairperson was acting arbitrarily and their request to defer the trip was unheeded.
Since the formation of the JPC in August this year, the panel has held discussions with different stakeholders for over 100 hours in 25 formal sittings in New Delhi only, said Dilip Saikia, a member of the JPC.
"We have taken views and suggestions from different stakeholders including waqf boards, minority commissions and Muslim institutions/organisations," he said.
The MP said the panel has completed the first phase of the tour to various states including Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. However, the opposition members have boycotted the second phase tour starting from Guwahati on Saturday, which is "unfortunate", Saikia said.
"The waqf boards need to be accountable for proper management of its properties, to empower the poor Muslims and to give its benefits to marginal sections of society," he said.
Another member of the panel, Aparajita Sarangi, said, "About 38 lakh acres of land is under the control of Waqf boards in India. We need to rectify the governance system and administration."
Sarangi, the Bhubaneswar MP, said that representatives from 16 organisations have participated in today’s meeting. Many individuals have also submitted their views before the panel.
Prior to Bhubaneswar, the panel visited other major cities, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Guwahati, where discussions covered a range of issues surrounding Waqf property management and proposed amendments to the Wakf Act, 1995.
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Karnataka: SP’s gunman among two arrested for extorting money from rice smuggler
Ballari (Karnataka) (PTI): An armed police constable serving as the district superintendent of police’s personal gunman, along with his accomplice, was arrested for allegedly extorting money from a rice smuggler, police said on Friday.
Devaraj, who had been serving as the SP’s gunman for the past four and a half years, was identified as the mastermind behind the incident.
Following an investigation, Devaraj and his accomplice Sairam were arrested on May 6, while efforts are underway to nab a third accused, Gadilinga, a practising advocate in Ballari, who is absconding, police said.
The matter came to light after a complaint was filed by Sharabappa, a habitual offender allegedly involved in illegal rice transport, they added.
According to police, the incident occurred on the intervening night of April 27 and 28, when a group of masked men intercepted Sharabappa’s rice-laden vehicles near the Moka forest area.
The accused allegedly introduced themselves as members of an “SP squad”, threatened to seize the vehicles and file criminal cases, and demanded money to avoid legal action.
Police said the accused initially demanded Rs 5 lakh and later extorted around Rs 3 lakh from the complainant.
Investigation revealed that Devaraj was the main person involved in demanding and collecting the money, while Sairam and Gadilinga were also involved in the offence. Sairam was allegedly involved in similar activities earlier as well.
Devaraj and Sairam were arrested under Sections 308(2) (extortion) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police also seized the extorted cash, the four-wheeler, and mobile phones allegedly used in the crime. Efforts are underway to trace Gadilinga.
Addressing a press conference, Ballari Superintendent of Police Suman D Pennekar described the incident as a serious offence that has tarnished the image of the police department.
"There is no official ‘SP squad’ or ‘DSP squad’ operating in the district. Such labels are often misused by impostors or corrupt individuals to commit extortion," the SP clarified.
She said no involvement of other police officers has been found so far.
Departmental proceedings have been initiated against Devaraj, and suspension proceedings are underway. The SP added that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in such offences.
Police said Sharabappa, the complainant, is a known habitual offender involved in illegal rice smuggling, and several cases have already been registered against him in the Moka and Peddihalli areas. A separate case has also been registered against him in connection with rice smuggling on the night of the incident.
Authorities are also exploring the possibility of initiating externment proceedings against him under applicable legal provisions.
The SP urged the public to report any extortion attempts by persons claiming to be part of an “SP squad”, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
