Bottle war between Bengal MPs in Parliament's JPC meeting

A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting discussing the Waqf Bill turned chaotic on Monday when Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee hurled a glass water bottle at the committee's chairman, Jagdambika Pal, injuring himself in the process. The incident occurred amidst heated exchanges between Banerjee and BJP MP Gangopadhyay, causing serious disruptions during the meeting.

The altercation reportedly began when harsh words were exchanged between Banerjee and Gangopadhyay. Banerjee accused Gangopadhyay of using offensive language, including derogatory terms aimed at him. According to Banerjee, the chairman, Jagdambika Pal, failed to intervene or address the issue, further escalating tensions in the room.

Frustrated by the lack of action, Banerjee took an extreme step. In a fit of rage, he smashed a glass water bottle and threw it towards Pal. In the process, Banerjee severely cut his hand, resulting in significant bleeding. Following the injury, Banerjee abruptly left the meeting and was later reported to have received four stitches to treat the wound.

The confrontation has drawn attention to the deep-seated disagreements within the committee over the Waqf Bill, reflecting the intense emotions and friction surrounding the issue.

Despite the incident, there has been no official statement from the JPC chairman or the BJP’s Gangopadhyay about the matter. However, the dramatic episode underscores the growing political tension between opposition leaders and the ruling party, especially over sensitive legislative issues like the Waqf Bill.