Kolkata

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh has accused BJP MP and Waqf Amendment Bill JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal of engaging in politics during a recent committee meeting. Ghosh defended fellow party member Kalyan Banerjee, who was suspended for one session after a heated exchange regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. Banerjee’s suspension was decided by a 9-7 vote, preventing him from attending the next meeting.

Ghosh stated, What Jagdambika Pal claims is unfounded. Kalyan Banerjee was justified in his comments. The BJP MP, a former judge, provoked him, leading to Banerjee’s anger. It’s inappropriate for a committee chair to hold press conferences during meetings; it’s pure politics.

Earlier, Pal alleged that Banerjee threw a broken glass bottle at him in a fit of anger, claiming he narrowly avoided injury. He reported the incident to the speaker, calling it a serious attack on parliamentary decorum.

The confrontation arose when Banerjee attempted to speak out of turn after already addressing the committee multiple times. A disagreement with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay escalated, prompting Banerjee to strike the bottle on the table, injuring himself before throwing it at Pal. The meeting was subsequently adjourned. The Waqf Bill aims to enhance transparency and digitize records while addressing illegal occupation of waqf properties.