A joint parliamentary committee meeting to study amendments to the Waqf Board Bill witnessed high drama on Tuesday, as Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee clashed with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former judge of the Calcutta High Court. The heated exchange escalated when Banerjee slammed a glass bottle on the table, resulting in injuries to his right hand.
During the meeting, opposition MPs, including Banerjee, raised objections as two Odisha-based organizations presented their arguments, questioning their relevance. Banerjee, speaking out of turn, was determined to make a point as Gangopadhyay was speaking, leading to a spat. Sources said both MPs used unparliamentary language, and an enraged Kalyan Banerjee slammed the glass bottle on the table.
Banerjee sustained a 1.5-centimeter laceration on his right thumb and a cut on his little finger. He received first aid at Parliament’s medical center and was escorted by AAP MP Sanjay Singh and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Visuals showed Banerjee being fed soup by a staffer after receiving treatment.
Committee Suspension and Ongoing Tensions
Following the incident, Kalyan Banerjee was suspended from the next committee meeting, with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey tabling a resolution to that effect.
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Tensions have been simmering in the committee, with opposition MPs previously boycotting meetings, accusing the committee of bias and calling for the removal of BJP MP Jagdambika Pal as chairperson. Opposition leaders have expressed concerns about the bill’s proposed amendments, which include the inclusion of non-Muslim members on Waqf boards and changes to the makeup of the central and state councils.
Opposition’s Objections
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, tabled in August 2024, has drawn fierce opposition, with MPs from the Congress, AIMIM, and the Samajwadi Party calling it a “draconian” measure that undermines the federal system and violates fundamental rights. Changes in the bill, such as the inclusion of non-Muslim members on Waqf boards and provisions to earmark land for various purposes, have sparked widespread protests.
Prominent opposition leaders, including AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, have strongly objected to the amendments. Even BJP allies, including Nitish Kumar’s JDU and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, have raised concerns about the proposed changes, marking a rare display of dissent from within the ruling coalition.
Government’s Defense
The government, represented by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, defended the amendments, stating they are designed to address long-standing issues that previous governments failed to resolve. Rijiju emphasized that the inclusion of at least two women on each board is aimed at empowering Muslim women and children. The government believes these reforms will modernize the functioning of Waqf boards and improve transparency.
