Odisha government seeks time to offer views on Waqf Amendment Bill

BHUBANESWAR: Even as Muslim organisations representing their community in Odisha strongly opposed the proposed amendment to the Waqf Act of 1995, the state government did not offer its views to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

On Monday, the five-member JPC under chairman Jagdambika Pal held meeting with the stakeholders to garner their views and opinion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. However, state Law secretary and other officials reportedly had nothing to say on the matter. When they were asked to submit their position either orally or in written form, they reportedly told the committee that they had no specific instructions from the government on the matter and may be allowed to inform the JPC at a later date.