A chaotic scene unfolded on Friday during a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting discussing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, leading to the suspension of ten opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), including prominent leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi and Kalyan Banerjee.
The MPs were suspended for causing a disruption following a disagreement over the proceedings of the meeting. The suspended MPs include Kalyan Banerjee, Mohammed Jawaid, A Raja, Asaduddin Owaisi, Nasir Hussain, Mohibullah, M. Abdullah, Arvind Sawant, Nadimul Haq, and Imran Masood.
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee accused the JPC Chairman of disregarding the views of the opposition members and criticized the changes in the meeting’s agenda. "It is like an undeclared emergency going on in the meeting. The Chairman is proceeding with this meeting and doesn't listen to anyone...They (BJP MPs) think they are deputy PM and deputy Home Minister. This is a complete farce," Banerjee said.
#WATCH| Delhi | TMC MP & member of JPC on Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, Kalyan Banerjee says, "It is like an undeclared emergency going on in the meeting...Chairman is proceeding with this (meeting) and he doesn't listen to anyone...They (BJP MPs) think that they are deputy PM and… pic.twitter.com/hAc5MDhHsd
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2025
In response, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey strongly condemned the opposition MPs, accusing them of attempting to stifle the democratic process. He specifically referred to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, claiming that the opposition MPs' actions during the meeting were an affront to parliamentary democracy. "They misbehaved in front of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, which is against parliamentary principles," Dubey stated.
The dispute occurred during discussions on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which aims to introduce key reforms to address long-standing issues such as mismanagement and encroachments on Waqf properties. The bill proposes digitisation, enhanced audits, and improved transparency to ensure better management of Waqf assets.
The JPC is expected to submit its report during the upcoming budget session, with its term extended through the winter session of Parliament. Despite the opposition's objections, the meeting was rescheduled to continue discussing the bill, and further meetings are planned for later in the week.
The controversy surrounding the meeting has escalated tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition, with both sides accusing each other of disrupting the legislative process.
