JPC Chairman Jagdambika Pal responds to Kalyan Banerjee’s outburst: ‘Can’t believe…’
Responding to the scuffle during the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Bill, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who chairs the important panel, said on Tuesday that he never expected such an incident to occur. He also condemned the behavior of Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee.
“In my 40 years of parliamentary life, during which I have chaired several committees… We may have differences, but what happened today is beyond anything we could have imagined,” he said.
Pal described the scuffle as a significant incident.
“I have informed Speaker Om Birla about the matter. It was a major incident, and for the first time, we were forced to adjourn the meeting. Two delegations from Odisha, which included senior lawyers and former judges, were present. What kind of message does this send to the country? His (TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee’s) party should also reflect on the behavior of its members. There is no room for violence in a democracy… They are accusing me of covering up their actions, but I give everyone the opportunity to speak. I never prevent anyone from participating in the meeting. If MPs feel they have an issue with me or claim I don’t allow them to speak, I am prepared to resign from this committee,” he said.
The agency reported that Banerjee attempted to speak out of turn, leading to an argument when the BJP MP objected to his interruptions.
Banerjee received four stitches on his hand.
The controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to introduce major reforms, including the digitization of records, stricter audits, greater transparency, and legal measures to reclaim illegally occupied waqf properties.
