Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee was suspended for a day from the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Bill on Tuesday for his alleged unruly behavior. The suspension followed an intense altercation during the meeting, during which Banerjee reportedly used unparliamentary language towards the committee chairperson, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, and even broke a glass bottle, which he then threw at Pal.
The motion to suspend Banerjee was passed by a narrow margin, with nine members voting in favor and eight against. During the heated exchange, Banerjee reportedly injured his thumb and index finger, requiring immediate first aid. He was later escorted back to the meeting by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi and AAP leader Sanjay Singh.
The JPC, chaired by Pal, was in the process of hearing the views of retired judges and lawyers on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Opposition members, including Banerjee, questioned the relevance of these experts to the bill and accused the government of introducing it for political reasons, targeting the Muslim community. Owaisi presented a lengthy critique of the bill, raising concerns about its potential impact.
The BJP defended the bill, stating that it seeks to reform Waqf property management through digitization, stricter audits, and enhanced transparency. The bill aims to address illegal occupations of Waqf properties and improve overall governance.