Oppn MPs indicate move to disassociate from Parliament panel on Waqf Bill
unhappy over Chair's functioning
New Delhi, Nov 4: Opposition MPs in the parliamentary committee scrutinising the Waqf (Amendment) Bill are scheduled to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday to protest its chairperson Jagdambika Pal's alleged "unilateral" decisions and attempts to "bulldoze" proceedings, indicating that they may disassociate themselves from the panel.
Claiming that they have been "stonewalled" during the committee's proceedings, opposition MPs have listed their grievances, including objections against the proposed law, in the letter addressed to Birla.
Senior counsel Harish Salve is likely to appear before the parliamentary panel on Tuesday on behalf of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Opposition sources said they have prepared a joint letter – signed by a number of MPs, including Congress's Mohammad Jawed and Imran Masood, DMK's Raja, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, AAP's Sanjay Singh and TMC's Kalyan Banerjee – that will be submitted it to the Speaker on Tuesday.
They accused Pal, a four-term MP representing the BJP, of taking "unilateral decisions" on fixing the dates of sittings -- which were at times for three consecutive days -- and whom to call as witnesses.
They said it is not practically possible for MPs to interact with deposers with adequate preparation.
The committee's proceedings have been marred by frequent protests from opposition members over a host of issues, while the BJP members have accused them of deliberately trying to scuttle its work.
With the Bill taking on distinct political hues and both the ruling BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc firm on their stand in favour and against it respectively, the panel's meetings have often resembled a political battleground as it works in overdrive to meet its deadline of the first week of Parliament's winter session.
In their joint letter, opposition MPs will urge Birla to direct Pal to have a formal consultation with members of the committee before taking any decision to assure the country that the committee is functioning in a free and fair manner, without any bias and departure from the established parliamentary procedures.
"Otherwise, we humbly submit that we may be forced to disassociate with the committee once for all as we have been stonewalled," it said.
Asserting that the joint committee of Parliament examining the Bill is like a mini Parliament, they said the panel should not be treated as a mere "ventilating chamber" to get the proposed legislation passed as "desired" by the government, ignoring the due process.
Not giving reasonable time against the will of the committee's members is nothing but an act of "atrocious onslaught on the Constitutional religion and Parliament".
Opposition MPs have also recorded their strong reservations against the Bill, claiming that the government's step is nothing but a surreptitious attempt to mitigate the earlier legislations of 1995 and 2013, enacted by Parliament with due care ensuring the secular credentials of the Constitution.
They alleged that the bill proposes over 100 amendments to the existing Act against the government's claim of only 44 changes.
They alleged, "Out of these amendments, we are reasonably confined to express our fear that the religious, spiritual and moral fabrics of a legal institution i.e. Waqf Board are going to be erased which will tarnish our country's image in the eye of the world community on minority rights guaranteed in our Constitution," they said.
For these reasons, the committee's sittings must be decided in such a manner to allow adequate time to discuss and deliberate every clause of the Bill, including Parliament's legislative competency.
Pal has rejected the charge that he has not allowed opposition members to air their views, asserting that he has ensured everybody's heard.
Opposition members had written to the Speaker last month as well to highlight the alleged "gross violation of rules" in the committee's functioning.
The BJP-led NDA members had also gone to Birla once after TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee smashed a glass bottle during the panel's meeting and allegedly threw it towards Pal, who was unharmed. Banerjee, though, ended up injuring his two fingers.
A number of Muslim groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, appeared before the committee on Monday to register views on the Bill.
While Jamaat-e-Islami Hind opposed the amendments, several other groups, including the Muslim Women Intellectual Group led by Shalini Ali and Vishwa Shanti Parishad led by Faiz Ahmad Faiz supported the changes.
Ali wanted the Waqf boards to spell out the steps it had taken to help in the education of orphans and pensions for divorced women, and wanted them to set targets in this regard.
She also wanted the Waqf boards to give up claims on lands that had temples and mosques for several years and cited the example of Gyanvapi in Varanasi.
Maulana Kaukab Mujtaba of the Ulema Foundation wanted the government to set up a separate Central Waqf Board for the Shia sect of Muslims.
He also wanted the Centre to take action against the misuse of Waqf properties by passing the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament.
Mujtaba also wanted the government to register FIR against Muttawalli of Waqf properties who failed to pay the required taxes after the audit.
Faiz of the Vishwa Shanti Parishad objected to the appointment of the Collector as the surveyor of Waqf properties and the authority to decide on their ownership.
He said such roles should be delegated to the Additional District Magistrates from the Muslim community.
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Karnataka Maritime Board announces plans for Mangaluru Water Metro Project
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Nov 4: After being endowed with multi connectivity facilities like three national highways, port and airport, Mangaluru city is now looking at a significant move towards sustainable urban mobility as the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) has announced plans for the Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP), officials said on Monday.
This ambitious initiative aims to transform public transportation in the state, utilising National Waterways to connect areas along the Nethravathi (NW-74) and Gurupura (NW-43) rivers, they said.
Set to become India's second-largest water transport system after Kochi, the project promises an eco-friendly, economical and efficient mode of travel, the officials said.
According to officials, the MWMP will connect isolated communities from Bajal to Maravoor, enhancing accessibility and promoting the holistic development of these regions. The initiative is expected to boost local livelihoods and improve the standard of living through integrated transport networks.
According to the project report available with PTI, the MWMP will be rolled out in phases, with the initial stretch covering 30 kilometres along the Nethravathi and Gurupura river backwaters.
The priority route, beginning at Bajal on the Nethravathi and extending to the Maravoor Bridge on the Gurupura, will feature around 17 modern Metro stations.
Key locations such as Someshwara Temple, Ullal and the New Mangalore Port are included in the proposed route. State-of-the-art electric and diesel catamaran boats will be deployed, equipped with essential amenities to ensure a high standard of comfort and operational efficiency.
A comprehensive Feasibility Report (FR) will assess the project's viability, presenting a detailed cost-benefit analysis, market potential, operational strategies and environmental considerations.
"The report will objectively evaluate the project's merits and challenges, providing crucial information for decision-makers, stakeholders and investors," they said.
Officials in the port and fisheries subdivision told PTI that key areas of analysis has been based on assessing the potential to decongest old port areas, exploring the feasibility of cargo movement using Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) water metros, examining water level variations influenced by tidal flows, integration with feeder services to ensure seamless last-mile connectivity, demand forecasts over a 25-year period, based on extensive socio-economic research of usage and utility of the MWMP.
The project's Terms of Reference (ToR) emphasise sustainable development, involving thorough site identification, user demand assessments and environmental impact studies. Comprehensive surveys such as LIDAR mapping, bathymetric studies and topographical analysis will ensure accurate planning and implementation, the officials told.
Furthermore, technical collaborations with national institutes of repute will support studies on wave tranquillity, vessel height clearance and infrastructure recommendations for jetties and repair facilities, they said.
A detailed environmental monitoring programme will assess air and water quality, noise levels and aquatic biodiversity in line with Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) guidelines, the officials added.
The officials of the Maritime Board said the MWMP promises significant economic and environmental benefits, from easing traffic congestion to reducing air pollution. The project will also explore non-fare revenue streams and develop models to ensure financial sustainability.
A socio-economic impact assessment will measure the project's contribution to regional development, backed by projected revenue from passenger fares and ancillary services, a senior official said.
The Board also aims at championing cleaner and greener transportation and to set a precedent for sustainable urban mobility, positioning Mangaluru as a progressive city that leverages its waterways, he added.
