10 Opposition MPs Suspended Amid Chaos During Waqf Bill Meeting

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Ten opposition MPs were suspended for a day after chaos erupted at the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The suspended MPs include Kalyan Banerjee, Asaduddin Owaisi, and others. Banerjee criticized the authoritarian behavior of the committee chairman. BJP MPs defended the actions, accusing opposition MPs of disrupting the session. The JPC’s swift handling of the bill before the Delhi elections has drawn political criticism.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Opposition MPs Disrupt JPC Meeting on Waqf Bill
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 was marred by a huge uproar, leading to the suspension of ten opposition MPs. The opposition members, including Kalyan Banerjee, Asaduddin Owaisi, and others, raised concerns over the lack of time given to review the bill. The chaos occurred after several requests for postponing the meeting were ignored. MPs accused the ruling party of rushing the bill through due to political motives related to the upcoming Delhi elections.

Kalyan Banerjee’s Strong Criticism
Kalyan Banerjee, an influential Trinamool Congress MP, severely criticized the committee chairman Jagdambika Pal’s authoritarian handling of the meeting. Banerjee likened the proceedings to a “zamindari” (feudal) style, stating that it disregarded opposition voices. He further expressed frustration over the change of the meeting’s agenda at the last minute, which was initially planned to proceed clause by clause. This irregularity led to further unrest among the opposition leaders.

BJP Defends the Suspension of MPs
BJP MPs, including Nishikant Dubey and Aparajita Sarangi, strongly defended the suspension of the opposition members. Dubey called the opposition’s actions an attack on parliamentary democracy, accusing them of deliberately disrupting the proceedings. Sarangi condemned the language used by the opposition, calling it “disgusting” and inappropriate for a parliamentary setting. She emphasized that while discussions should continue, there is a limit to disruptive behavior.

Political Context and Allegations of Bias
The bill, which proposes changes to the management and governance of Waqf properties, has been a contentious issue. Opposition members allege that the BJP government is pushing the bill through without sufficient discussion, suspecting it is politically motivated to influence Delhi’s election results. The JPC meeting was briefly adjourned as tensions rose, and the opposition MPs later walked out in protest, declaring the committee’s actions as a “farce.”

Tensions in Previous Meetings
This was not the first time the JPC’s handling of the Waqf Bill has faced controversy. In October 2024, a confrontation erupted between Banerjee and BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay, when Banerjee threw a glass bottle at the committee’s chairman, causing an injury.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

The chaos at the Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the Waqf Amendment Bill led to the suspension of ten opposition MPs, including Kalyan Banerjee and Asaduddin Owaisi. The BJP defended its actions, claiming that the opposition was disrupting the democratic process. The Waqf Bill’s swift passage has sparked political controversy, with allegations of political bias in favor of the Delhi elections. This session follows previous tensions and allegations of authoritarian conduct by the committee’s chairman.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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