Jagdambika Pal Appointed Chair of Waqf Bill Committee

BJP Lok Sabha member Jagdambika Pal has been appointed as the chairperson of the Joint Committee of Parliament tasked with examining the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The committee, which comprises 31 members—21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha—was formed after opposition protests regarding the bill's provisions. The government asserts that the bill aims to reform the management of Waqf properties without interfering with mosque operations, while the opposition argues it infringes on constitutional rights and targets Muslims. The committee is expected to report its findings by the first week of the next session of Parliament. This follows a heated debate that led to the bill's referral to the committee during its introduction last Thursday. The composition of the committee reflects a mix of ruling and opposition members, with the ruling National Democratic Alliance holding a slight majority.