10 opposition MPs suspended after chaos erupts at JPC meet over Waqf Bill 2024
Ten opposition MPs were suspended for a day following a chaotic meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024. The suspended members include prominent figures such as Kalyan Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), and A Raja (DMK) among others.
The turmoil erupted during discussions aimed at reviewing the Waqf Bill, with opposition members accusing the government of hastily pushing the legislation ahead of the upcoming Delhi elections. Kalyan Banerjee criticized JPC chair Jagdambika Pal for allegedly ignoring opposition voices and changing the meeting agenda without notice, which he described as reminiscent of “zamindari” practices, indicating a lack of democratic process.
Tensions escalated when it was revealed that the meeting’s agenda had shifted unexpectedly. Opposition MPs claimed they were informed late about changes to the schedule, which they argued undermined their ability to prepare adequately for discussions. The JPC was originally set to discuss the bill clause by clause but was instead directed to meet with a delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, further fueling discontent among opposition members.
BJP MPs defended the suspension, with Nishikant Dubey moving the motion after alleging that opposition members behaved disruptively during the meeting. They accused them of using unparliamentary language and obstructing proceedings, especially during a session that included important stakeholders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from Kashmir. In contrast, opposition leaders expressed concerns about the implications of rushing through such significant legislation without proper debate, emphasizing that it could have serious repercussions for Waqf properties.
The suspended MPs have since addressed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting a postponement of upcoming meetings to allow more time for thorough discussion on the bill.
