Kalyan Banerjee suspended after 'bottle breaking' from parliamentary committee

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has been suspended for one day from the parliamentary committee on Waqf following a dramatic incident during a meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The disruption occurred on Tuesday when Banerjee smashed a glass water bottle and threw it amidst a heated exchange with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay, leading to a moment of chaos in the committee room.

The confrontation escalated during discussions as Banerjee and other opposition members questioned the involvement of retired judges and lawyers in the ongoing deliberations concerning the Waqf bill. The tension peaked when Banerjee expressed his frustration extremely, resulting in injuries to his thumb and index finger. After the incident, he was promptly attended to by officials who provided first aid and later offered him soup for comfort.

The meeting of the Joint Committee on the Waqf Bill was held at the Parliament Annexe building in New Delhi and was chaired by BJP’s Jagdambika Pal. On the agenda was gathering insights from various stakeholders, including a delegation from Odisha's Cuttack-based Justice in Reality and representatives from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The discussions were intended to gather diverse perspectives on the bill, which has faced scrutiny and disapproval from opposition parties.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju  introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha on August 8, amidst significant opposition. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies, including JD-U, TDP, and Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, have shown their support for the bill, while opposition parties have raised concerns regarding its implications. TDP MP Ganti Harish Madhur stated that his party would have no objections if the bill were to be sent to a parliamentary committee for further examination.

Following pressure from allies and the opposition, the government decided to send the bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for a comprehensive discussion. This joint panel comprises 31 MPs—21 from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha—representing a variety of political parties, indicating the bill's significance and the contentious nature of the discussions surrounding it.

Banerjee's actions have drawn attention not just for their dramatic flair but also for highlighting the heightened tensions within parliamentary discussions on sensitive issues like the Waqf Bill. As the situation unfolds, the focus will likely remain on how the committee addresses the diverse concerns raised by various stakeholders in this crucial legislative matter.