Book Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee for ruckus at meeting on Waqf Bill, BJP members urge Speaker

Three BJP MPs demand police case against Trinamool Congress MP for violence at committee meeting, seek suspension from Lok Sabha.

Three BJP MPs have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding that the police file a case against Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee for the “unprecedented violence” at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 on Tuesday. They also sought his suspension from the Lok Sabha till the police investigation was completed. 

Mr. Banerjee reportedly smashed a bottle during a heated exchange with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay at the meeting.

Mr. Gangopadhyay has signed the letter along with BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Aparajita Sarangi. 

In their joint letter to the Speaker on Tuesday, the BJP members said they, along with other members of the panel, witnessed the “act of goondaism and unpardonable violence” perpetrated by Mr. Banerjee. His actions “surpassed all limits of a civilised behaviour expected from a Member of Parliament”, they said. Not acting against Mr. Banerjee, they argued, would tarnish the parliamentary system “beyond repair”. “In terms of Rule 316 B (a) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha, the unethical conduct of Kalyan Banerjee, Member of Parliament, may be referred to the Committee on Ethics for examination, investigation and report for considering rescinding his membership,” they said. 

Meanwhile, the Opposition members have accused Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal of leaking the proceedings of the meetings. AAP MP and panel member Sanjay Singh said, “It is very unfortunate that a statement is given in the media about the conversation and discussion that took place at the committee meeting. According to the parliamentary rules, no one can give a statement about the closed-door discussion,” Mr. Singh said. He added that the Opposition would raise this issue in the next meeting.