In a heated turn of events, BJP leader Jagdambika Pal, the chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill, suspended ten opposition members for a day on Friday, following accusations of unfair treatment and procedural violations.
The suspended members, who belong to various opposition parties including Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress, DMK, AIMIM, SP, and Shiv Sena-UBT, raised concerns about how the meeting was conducted. In a strongly worded letter addressed to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the opposition MPs accused Pal of humiliating them during the meeting and acting unilaterally.
The opposition MPs voiced their disagreement with the way the committee handled the proceedings, leading to the controversy. They highlighted the lack of consultation and fairness in the process, claiming that the JPC was ignoring due procedures. They also requested a postponement of the meeting scheduled for January 27, as many members had planned their constituency programs in advance. According to the letter, the opposition MPs raised these concerns respectfully, but Pal failed to engage in any meaningful dialogue.
The situation escalated when, while the opposition MPs were making their points, Pal reportedly took a phone call and, without addressing their concerns, abruptly ordered their suspension. The MPs, in their letter, described this as a humiliation, accusing Pal of rushing through the proceedings without giving due consideration to the issues raised.
The opposition MPs also challenged the authority of the JPC chairman, questioning whether he had the legal power to suspend committee members. They urged the Lok Sabha Speaker to intervene and ensure that they conducted the proceedings transparently and fairly. Additionally, they called for postponing the meeting to allow the opposition to present their arguments properly, in accordance with the established rules.
The suspended members include prominent opposition leaders such as Banerjee and Nadeem-ul Haque (TMC), Mohammad Jawed, Imran Masood, and Syed Naseer Hussain (Congress), A Raja and Mohamed Abdullah (DMK), Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), Mohibullah (SP), and Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-UBT). BJP member Nishikant Dubey initiated the move to suspend them by putting forward the motion, which the committee adopted.
The conflict highlights growing tensions over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced in August 2024. The bill aims to amend the Waqf Act of 1995 and address issues related to the regulation and management of Waqf properties. As the debate continues, the opposition is pushing for more transparency and fairness in the committee’s handling of the bill, particularly given the significance of the amendments to the Waqf Act.
In the wake of the disruption, Pal also accused Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee of using inappropriate language during the meeting, adding to the tension between the committee members.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Lok Sabha Speaker and the ruling government will address the opposition’s demands for a more transparent and fair process in handling the Waqf Amendment Bill.
