Waqf Amendment Bill: 8-hour discussion time set, extendable if House agrees

India Today

The Business Advisory Committee has allocated 8 hours for discussion on the Waqf Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, extendable if the House agrees.

Transcript

00:00We want to have a discussion with the district group on the Government Amendment Bill and

00:07the Business Advisory Committee should decide on it.

00:10In the Business Advisory Committee, some parties wanted to discuss for 6 hours, some

00:18wanted to discuss for 4 hours, and most of the opposition party members asked for 12

00:25hours.

00:26At that time, the discussion time was decided for 8 hours and the speaker also said that

00:33the discussion time was given for 8 hours, which can be increased, but with the sense

00:40of the house.

00:41Discussions are always like this.

00:43When you decide the time, if the house feels that the discussion time should be increased,

00:52then the time can be extended.

00:55But if by making an excuse, he does not want to take part in the discussion, and by making

01:02an excuse, he takes a step to walk out, then I cannot stop him.

01:07We want to have a discussion and the JPC has openly…

01:13We had a Business Advisory Committee meeting for Lok Sabha.

01:18I had proposed before the committee that tomorrow on 2nd April, we are bringing the

01:26Government Amendment Bill and for that we have to allocate time for discussion.

01:32And we had proposed that initially from 4 hours, 6 hours, whatever the committee decides,

01:39government is okay.

01:40Then there were differences in the opinions amongst various parties.

01:48Some of the members wanted 4 hours, some members wanted 6 hours, the opposition parties wanted

01:5612 hours.

01:57So finally, there was an agreement that the total time to be allocated for discussion

02:04on Work Amendment Bill would be 8 hours, extendable after taking the sense of the house.

02:11The Honorable Speaker made an announcement that 8 hours is fixed right now for Work Amendment Bill.

02:20And if required, we will take the sense of the house and extend the time for discussion.

02:27After that, the opposition party made a walkout and I don't know the reason.

02:34Government is very honestly and keenly looking forward to have a proper discussion on Work

02:42Amendment Bill and every member of the parliament, those who represent different

02:49political parties must get sufficient time and proper time to discuss and speak on the matter, on the subject.

02:59Now, if some political parties are trying to create some excuse so that they can run away from the discussion,

03:12that would be unfortunate because the nation wants to listen the points raised by various political parties.

03:22I am very happy that today after the Catholic Council, the Bharat Church Group and various other church groups of India

03:33have extended not only support but appeal everyone to support the Work Amendment Bill.

03:41Similarly, various other groups are also making an appeal.

03:45Sir, the opposition is saying that the opposition is not good for which time has not been dedicated.

03:52They basically made a walkout because you said only one hour of discussion on Manipur and the Home Minister replied by mid-night.

03:59It is like this, today there was a meeting of Business Advisory Committee and we, as a government,

04:08decided that we want to have a detailed discussion on the Work Amendment Bill and the Business Advisory Committee should decide on it.

04:21So, in the Business Advisory Committee, some parties wanted 6 hours of discussion, some wanted 4 hours of discussion

04:30and most of the opposition parties demanded 12 hours of discussion.

04:36Then, 8 hours of discussion time was decided and the speaker also said that 8 hours of discussion time has been given

04:48which can be increased but with the sense of the House.

04:52Discussions are always like this.

04:54When you decide the time, if the House feels that the time for discussion should be increased,

05:02then the time can be extended.

05:06But if by making an excuse, the House does not want to participate in the discussion

05:13then I cannot stop it.

05:18We want a discussion and JPC has scrutinized and discussed this bill extensively and again tabled the report in the Parliament.

05:29Then, the Cabinet has checked the provisions and we are talking about bringing the bill again.

05:40Every political party has the right to have its own opinion.

05:44And the country wants to know which political party has a position in the Work Amendment Bill.

05:51It wants to know and it will be recorded.

05:54It will be recorded for thousands of years that who has denied and who has supported the Work Amendment Bill.

06:02It will be recorded.

06:03But the discussion should be done.

06:05If you do not want to discuss and if you make an excuse, then I cannot be responsible for it.

06:12Sir, the opposition is saying that they are asking for a debate on the Money Board.

06:16It is like this.

06:17It is like this.

06:18I want to table the Work Amendment Bill for consideration and passing from 12 o'clock to 2nd April after the question hour.

06:31After that, it has been agreed that the discussion will be for 8 hours.

06:38And if you want to increase it, then you can increase it in the House.

06:43Sir, the opposition is saying that they are asking for a debate on the Money Board.

06:48You said that there will be a debate in an hour.

06:50You have to understand that this budget is till 17th April.

07:00And the Bill that we pass in Lok Sabha, we have to pass it in Rajya Sabha as well.

07:05We have to see the time as well.

07:08This Parliament is not just Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.

07:11This is a Parliament of both.

07:13If the Work Amendment Bill or any important issue is passed in Lok Sabha, then it has to be passed in Rajya Sabha as well.

07:22So, we have to give time for Rajya Sabha as well.

07:26Sir, but could this Bill have been brought earlier also if there was a paucity of time for the Bill?

07:33See, you have to remember one thing.

07:35The Congress Party is saying that why do we have to ask the Rajya Sabha?

07:40This is wrong. Rajya Sabha is equally important as Lok Sabha.

07:44Money Bill, leaving aside the budget, both the parties decide.

07:49Yes, the Money Bill is also discussed in Rajya Sabha and it is returned.

07:53But to say that we should not give importance to Rajya Sabha is not right.

07:57Sir, will the Bill be passed in this period also?

08:00I am saying that today is 1st.

08:04On 2nd, if it is passed in Lok Sabha, then we have to report in Rajya Sabha.

08:11Then we have to decide the time and have a discussion.

08:15If we discuss in Lok Sabha for two days, then where is the time left?

08:19We have to see the time as well.

08:21Because this calendar has been decided and every Bill is discussed for a day.

08:26You tell me, has there ever been an unlimited discussion of JPC for 12 hours or 20 hours?

08:33There is discussion for 6 hours or 7 hours.

08:36Sir, all the parties are together on this Bill?

08:40The whole country is together.

08:43Some political parties, Congress parties and some people are acting as if they are opposing because of the vote bank politics.

08:51Now look at the Church Council.

08:53The Church Council in India, the Christian community is openly supporting this.

09:01In Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Muslims, the majority of people are supporting this.

09:09Is the JDU supporting this?

09:11What am I saying? Everyone is supporting this.

09:13Sir, will the government give a reply on this?

09:18The reply has to be given tomorrow.

09:20I am saying with folded hands that if there is nothing to say in the Bill,

09:26then don't make an excuse of the Business Advisory Committee to walk out.

09:35The time has been decided.

09:37We want to listen and we are ready to respond to each and every point and each and every section.

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