Rajya Sabha Budget Session Disrupted as Opposition Protests JPC Report on Waqf Bill
New Delhi, 13th February 2025: The Budget Session of the Rajya Sabha resumed on Thursday but was soon disrupted by Opposition MPs protesting the joint parliamentary committee’s report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The commotion erupted as Maharashtra BJP MP Medha Vishram Kulkarni presented the report in the Upper House, leading to a temporary adjournment.
The leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, objected to the report, alleging that dissenting remarks had been removed. Calling this move undemocratic and unacceptable, he urged Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to reject the report and return it for reconsideration. He also labeled the report “fabricated,” claiming it excluded statements from key stakeholders.
The accusations sparked strong objections from the treasury benches. Dhankhar criticized the protesting MPs’ conduct, urging them to maintain decorum. House Leader J P Nadda condemned the Opposition’s actions, while Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the JPC report. Rijiju dismissed the allegations of tampering, calling them “baseless and misleading,” and accused the Opposition of spreading false narratives. He maintained that the report accurately reflected the committee’s discussions and amendments.
As disruptions persisted, Dhankhar expressed his frustration, adding to the already heated debate. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also weighed in, accusing the Opposition of attempting to mislead the House and disrupt proceedings. The session remained tense as both sides clashed over the controversial bill and the contents of the JPC report.
