Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee has been suspended over “unruly conduct” during a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Amendment bill. According to media reports, Banerjee who is also a member of the JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill, was suspended for a day and two meetings.
He has been suspended under Lok Sabha Rules 261 and 374(1) (2) for using “unparliamentary” language against committee chairperson Jagdambika Pal, breaking a glass bottle and throwing it at him.
The dramatic event unfolded during the JPC meeting when Banerjee smashed a glass water bottle and threw it away after he had a verbal altercation with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay. As per reports, the TMC MP was given first aid as he had injured his thumb and index finger in the ensuing act. Later, he was escorted back to the meeting room by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and AAP MP Sanjay Singh.
The motion to suspend Banerjee was passed by 9:8 votes.
Nonetheless, the JPC meeting chaired by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal was seeking the views of a group of retired judges and lawyers when the opposition members raised questions asking what was their stake in the bill.
Earlier, on Monday, the JPC met with officials from the ministry of minority affairs. The JPC members invited them to provide oral evidence on the bill, as reported by news agency ANI.
According to the ANI, the opposition members raised questions over the consultative process behind the legislation. They alleged that the NDA government introduced the bill for political reasons to target the Muslim community.
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi gave one-hour opposition points to the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee raised a question and asked the government whether Waqf, which exists in the name of Allah, is legally recognised by the state.
It is pertinent to note that the opposition parties have been aggressively peddling false narratives to garner larger chunk of the Muslim vote bank to their side. In their bid to project themselves as the champion of the Muslim community, they have brazenly given communal colour to the Waqf Amendment Bill which aims to put a leash on the usurping powers of the board which over the years has gone on to become the third largest land owner in the country. Competing against pro-Muslim parties like the ISF, left, and the Congress, the TMC has been giving an open call to the Muslim community to collectively rally behind the ruling party and not divide their vote as the division in the Muslim votes could benefit the BJP. In West Bengal, Muslims play a dominant vote block especially in parts of the state like Malda, Murshidabad among others.
Meanwhile, Islamists forces and their ecosystem have been peddling false narratives against the Waqf Amendment Bill, akin to the blatantly communal rhetoric that was prevalent during the time of anti-CAA protest, alleging that their places of worship, and properties could be snatched.
