Chairman not listening to us: Waqf board JPC meets Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

'We have met the Lok Sabha Speaker. The JPC chairman is not listening to us,' said Kalyan Banerjee

Opposition MPs, who are members of the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee addressing the media after the meeting, said, "We have met the Lok Sabha Speaker. The JPC chairman is not listening to us. The report cannot be given in a hurry. The Speaker said that he respects our sentiments and he will extend the time, all stakeholders will be heard..."

At the last meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 high drama ensued after Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee lost his cool and smashed a glass bottle of water which led to his eventual suspension from the next meeting of the Committee.

Sources said that the matter took place after Banerjee had an altercation with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay over some issue after which Banerjee allegedly used some objectionable words against him. Those present said that Gangopadhyay, too, responded with some words against Banerjee, after which Banerjee broke the bottle by slamming it on the table. He then flung it at the direction of Chairman Pal.