TMC’s Kalyan Banerjee Removed After Heated Exchange, Allegations of Targeting Surface

Drama Unfolds in JPC Meeting on Waqf Bill 

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, October 25, 2024, Kolkata: Tensions ran high at the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf Bill on October 22, where a heated exchange led to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee being dismissed from the committee following an outburst. In the midst of a fierce argument, Banerjee reportedly lost his temper, smashing a glass water bottle on the table in frustration. The incident, which left his hand injured, saw him leaving the room with a bandage on his hand, supported by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Witnesses report that as discussions on the Waqf Bill intensified, verbal exchanges escalated into a near-scuffle between Banerjee and BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a former Calcutta High Court judge. Amidst the tension, a broken glass bottle lay on the table, adding to the charged atmosphere. Allegations surfaced that Banerjee had attempted to throw the bottle toward JPC Chairperson Jagdambika Pal, though Banerjee dismissed these accusations, instead pointing to what he claimed was a targeted attack against him for his strong stance on secularism.

“I am being singled out because I stand firm against communal agendas,” Banerjee commented, speaking about the incident for the first time since it occurred. “I have faced threats before, and there is even a plot to eliminate me. They can go as far as killing me for my commitment to non-communal values and secularism,” he added.

Despite being removed from the committee, Banerjee remains defiant, with BJP MPs now urging for a suspension from the Lok Sabha as well. The demand for stricter action underscores the mounting tensions between BJP and TMC representatives, especially on sensitive legislative issues like the Waqf Bill.

Banerjee, however, voiced disappointment over his treatment by Chairperson Jagdambika Pal, recalling that he had celebrated Pal’s birthday just the night before. “This lack of courtesy is disappointing. I got six stitches on my hand, and yet here I am, unfairly targeted,” he remarked.

The incident highlights the intensifying political rift within parliamentary discussions, raising questions about decorum and the challenges of maintaining bipartisan cooperation on contentious bills. The JPC is expected to issue a formal statement regarding the incident in the coming days, as Parliament braces for potential disciplinary proceedings against Banerjee.