New Delhi, Mar 17 (UNI) BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Monday slammed All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) for holding protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, calling it a "political protest" in an attempt to divide the people.

Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, said, "They are misguiding the nation. Nobody is going to take away the Waqf lands. If someone is selling away Waqf land, then it is people in the Waqf themselves. The amendment will prohibit the selling of Waqf land and will benefit the poor", he said.

"This is a political protest. The act has not even been introduced yet. We have only submitted our 428-page report... The amendment bill has been brought. They should say anything after the bill is passed" the Lok Sabha MP further added.

On Monday, AIMPLB staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, alleging that the government is conspiring to seize Waqf properties.

The protest saw participation from eleven opposition parties, including the Congress. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Congress leader Salman Khurshid also participated in the protest.

“The Waqf Amendment Bill is a conspiracy to spread anarchy in the name of law and to destroy and occupy Waqf property in the name of protection and transparency of Waqf. That is why we demand from the government that it should stop its action and withdraw the bill,” the AIMPLB said.

On 27th January, a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) led by Jagdambika Pal had approved the Waqf Amendment Bill tabled in the Lok Sabha in August last year.

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to introduce reforms such as digitization, enhanced audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.

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