TMC Member of Parliament Kalyan has been suspended after shattering a bottle during a parliamentary committee meeting concerning the waqf Bill.

 TMC Member of Parliament Kalyan has been suspended after shattering a bottle during a parliamentary committee meeting concerning the waqf Bill.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Kalyan Banerjee was suspended for one day from the Joint Committee of Parliament concerning the Waqf (Amendment) Bill following an incident in which he shattered a glass bottle during a contentious exchange with BJP member and former Calcutta High Court Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who presides over the committee, subsequently claimed that Banerjee attempted to strike the Chair with the bottle. It has been reported that Banerjee sustained cuts to his thumb and a finger as a result of breaking the bottle. He received first aid and was later seen being escorted back to the meeting room by AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and AAP MP Sanjay Singh. The altercation between Banerjee and Gangopadhyay reportedly escalated during a discussion regarding the registration of Waqf properties. Following a series of heated exchanges, Banerjee is said to have smashed the glass bottle on the table. In remarks to the media afterward, Pal accused Banerjee of directing the bottle at him. “A violent incident occurred during today’s meeting. A bottle was broken, and there was an attempt to strike the Chair… the manner in which it was thrown was alarming. By the grace of God, I was unharmed. He subsequently insulted me and made derogatory remarks outside. I must emphasize that such conduct has no place in a parliamentary democracy.” When approached for comment, Banerjee refrained from discussing the incident, citing parliamentary rules that prohibit disclosure of meeting proceedings. In the aftermath of the incident, Banerjee was suspended for one day, effective at the next meeting, following a motion introduced by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. “This matter pertains to Parliament. We have informed (Lok Sabha Speaker) Om Birla about the incident due to its severity. This was the first time we had to adjourn a meeting because of such an occurrence, which left everyone in shock. There were two witnesses from Odisha, including a former Judge and a senior IAS officer. What message does this send to the nation? The TMC should reflect on the implications of such behavior.”

Pal addressed reporters, questioning the role of violence within a parliamentary democracy. In response to Banerjee's claims of bias, he stated, "If the Chairman exhibits bias, there exists a formal process for addressing such concerns. They have submitted their grievances to the Speaker." On October 15, members of the Opposition submitted a letter to Birla, asserting that the committee's proceedings were conducted in a biased and partisan manner under the leadership of Chairperson Jagdambika Pal. Pal emphasized that Opposition members are afforded numerous opportunities to express their views during the committee meetings. He noted, "Owaisi Sahab indicated he would speak for an hour, and I permitted him to do so. No other chairman has facilitated discussions in this manner. I remain present from morning until evening. This is the first instance of them making allegations to deflect from their own misconduct. I do not prevent anyone from voicing their opinions. We hold regular meetings. Has any member claimed that Jagdambika Pal restricts their ability to speak? There are parliamentarians from minority groups present, and I am attentive to their sentiments as well. Should any member assert that I inhibit their speech, I would resign from my position as chairman." The 31-member committee, assigned by the Lok Sabha to examine the Bill aimed at amending the regulations governing Waqf boards, has experienced tumultuous interactions since its inaugural meeting on August 22. On Tuesday, it was set to receive input from Justice in Reality, Cuttack, Panchasakha Bani Prachar Mandali Cuttack, and five IUML MPs. The previous Monday, a number of Opposition MPs exited the committee meeting following remarks made by a former office-bearer of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission and BJP leader regarding Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, which were reportedly related to the allocation of Waqf land.