A meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee discussing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill turned chaotic when Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee broke a glass bottle in response to an objection from a BJP MP. Banerjee has been suspended from the meeting for his behavior and opposition members walked out in protest. This is not the first instance of heated arguments over the contentious bill, leading to tension between ruling and opposition members.
Chaos in Parliament over Waqf Bill: TMC MP Breaks Glass Bottle
Background:
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2022, seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to regulate the management of Waqf properties in India. The Waqf Board is a statutory body responsible for managing and supervising Waqf properties, which are religious and charitable endowments under Muslim law.
Incident in Parliament:
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, a meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) discussing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill turned chaotic. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee broke a glass bottle in response to an objection raised by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP.
According to reports, the BJP MP had objected to a statement made by Banerjee. In a fit of anger, Banerjee picked up a glass bottle from the table and smashed it on the ground. The incident led to a commotion in the committee room, with several members rushing to the spot.
Banerjee was immediately suspended from the meeting for his behavior. Opposition members, including TMC, Samajwadi Party, and Congress, walked out of the meeting in protest.
Aftermath:
The incident has further escalated tensions between the ruling party and the opposition over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. The bill has been criticized by opposition parties for allegedly undermining the autonomy of the Waqf Board and giving the government more control over Waqf properties.
The JPC has been reconstituted to continue its deliberations on the bill. The reconstituted committee will include seven members from the BJP and four from the opposition.
FAQs:
1. What is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill?
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2022, seeks to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to regulate the management of Waqf properties in India. The bill aims to strengthen the Central government's oversight over the Waqf Board and streamline the administration of Waqf properties.
2. What are the key provisions of the bill?
3. Why is the bill controversial?
The bill has been criticized by opposition parties for:
4. What happened during the JPC meeting on February 15?
TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee broke a glass bottle in response to an objection from a BJP MP. Banerjee was suspended from the meeting and opposition members walked out in protest.
5. What is the future of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill?
The JPC has been reconstituted and will continue its deliberations on the bill. It is unclear when the bill will be tabled in Parliament for final approval.
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