Government Bows to Opposition Pressure: JPC Term Extended, Wakf Bill to Be Presented Soon

This disruption was the winter session's second on November 28, 2024, owing to the opposition parties' continuance of protests, followed by an adjournment of the proceedings. With the din and chaos having been witnessed, a new event took place before the house was adjourned. The Lok Sabha agreed for further period of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Wakf Bill.

Originally, the JPC had slated presenting its report on the Wakf Bill by Friday, November 29, 2024, but the opposition MPs who form part of the committee have demanded more time and wanted the tenure of the committee extended. JPC chief BJP MP Jagdambika Pal earlier said the report was ready but then gave in to demands for further deliberation before an agreed date for a presentation of the report was agreed. Consequently, the Wakf Bill report shall henceforth be placed during the Budget session of 2025, instead of the winter session currently.

The day's proceedings began with a question hour that was interrupted by opposition protests over the Adani scandal and issues related to the Sambhal case. Speaker of the Lok Sabha had to adjourn the House until 12 PM due to the disruptions. Upon resumption, Jagdambika Pal introduced the proposal to extend the JPC's term, which was quickly passed.

Kiren Rijiju Condemns Opposition's Actions

Soon after the proposal was passed, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the conduct of the opposition. "Disappointed that the opposition leadership and members of the Business Advisory Committee had agreed to a schedule for discussing the pending bills but then went ahead and disrupted the proceedings, creating unnecessary disruptions," he said, adding that this behavior was "unacceptable."

This tension between the ruling BJP and opposition parties has further added to the drama of the winter session, wherein the Wakf Bill and its related discussion are likely to be set in motion in the next few months.