Waqf (Amendment) Bill: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee says JPC members from Opposition will boycott the meetings

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday said in Kolkata that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) members from the Opposition will boycott the meetings starting from November 9. Banerjee was recently suspended for a day following his altercation during a JPC meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Meanwhile, seven Opposition lawmakers on Monday threatened to disassociate themselves from the JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

Banerjee, blaming BJP's Jagdambika Pal, the JPC chairman, for alleged ‘high-handedness’ and ‘arbitrary action’ on the Waqf Amendment Bill, said that the chairman of the JPC has fixed a very hectic schedule and continuous rounds of meetings in Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Patna and Lucknow over six days, despite Sunday being a holiday.

“The opposition members of the JPC have decided to boycott the tour and associated meetings as the chairman has functioned in an arbitrary and high-handed manner,” Banerjee told media persons. Another Trinamool MP Nadimul Haque was also present with Banerjee in the meeting in Kolkata.


Banerjee claimed that due to this hectic schedule and continuous series of meetings, the Waqf stakeholders were not being given enough time. "Members from the ruling party are working as per their own agenda and not in the interest of the nation,” Banerjee noted.

Banerjee pointed out that the Opposition members of the JPC have recently met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on November 5, 2024. He said they have urged him to defer the busy schedule and change the hectic schedule to once or twice a week every fortnight.

Banerjee said that the Speaker had verbally agreed to consider the matter sympathetically and speak to the chairman. The Trinamool leader noted that all Members of Parliament also have ‘other important official work' and have to meet people in their respective constituencies.

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee was suspended from the JPC on Waqf Bill for a day for his “unruly conduct.” The meeting took a dramatic turn after Banerjee smashed a glass water bottle. He had reportedly hurt his thumb and index finger. The incident took place on October 22 during the JPC hearing depositions from Cuttack-based Justice in Reality, and Panchasakha Bani Prachar Mandali.