New Delhi: The Parliament’s Budget Session is set to resume on Monday, bringing a flurry of legislative activity and the promise of heated debates between the ruling and opposition parties. Several key bills are on the agenda, including those related to finance, tribal representation and potentially controversial amendments to the Waqf Act.
In the Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will introduce the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will present legislation on readjusting the representation of Scheduled Tribes in Goa’s assembly constituencies. This move could spark debate on minority representation and political representation.
The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, will see the introduction of the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill by Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday, a bill likely to attract scrutiny from both the ruling and opposition parties.
![Today’s Rahu Kaal timings in major cities [1 November 2024]: Delhi, Mumbai and more](https://i0.wp.com/www.indiapostlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Todays-Rahu-Kaal-timings-in-major-cities-1-November-2024-Delhi-Mumbai-and-more.png?resize=330%2C220&ssl=1 "Today’s Rahu Kaal timings in major cities [6 November 2024]: Delhi, Mumbai and more 3")
However, the most controversial bill likely to be tabled during the session is the proposed amendment to the Waqf Act, which could significantly impact the management of Waqf properties. While the government has not officially confirmed the introduction of the amendments, reports suggest that they will aim to limit the Waqf Board’s authority to designate properties, including a requirement for mandatory property verification.
“There have been demands from within the community to amend the law to bring transparency and accountability …some Muslim high court judges had flagged that the decision taken by Waqf boards cannot be challenged in courts. Now, the amendment bill seeks to set that right,” news agency PTI quoted a person familiar with the government’s decision as saying.
The proposed amendments have already sparked controversy, with critics accusing the government of attempting to erode the autonomy of Waqf boards and undermine the rights of the Muslim community. Opposition leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi have voiced strong objections, alleging that the BJP has a hidden agenda to target Waqf properties and that the amendments are a violation of religious freedom.
While the government has defended the proposed changes, citing a need for transparency and accountability in Waqf property management, the debate is likely to intensify as the Budget Session progresses.
