Waqf Board Ruckus: Speculations were rife that the Waqf Amendment Bill would be passed during the 2025 Budget Session of Parliament.
However, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on Friday witnessed a heated dispute, leading to the suspension of 10 opposition MPs.
The meeting has now been postponed until January 27. A fierce verbal spat broke out between TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, prompting the intervention of marshals to control the situation.
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Intense Debate Between TMC and BJP MPs
Waqf Board Ruckus: The JPC, formed to discuss the Waqf Amendment Bill, convened on Friday. During the meeting, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee questioned the urgency of holding the discussion.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey retaliated strongly, leading to an escalation. The situation resulted in the suspension of 10 opposition MPs who were involved in the altercation.
Kashmiri Leader Umar Farooq to Voice Concerns
According to media reports, Kashmiri religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is set to appear before the parliamentary committee on Friday to raise objections to the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Committee Meeting Rescheduled to January 27
Waqf Board Ruckus: The Joint Parliamentary Committee, chaired by Jagdambika Pal, postponed further discussions on the draft law to January 27 following objections raised by opposition leaders.
The committee will now reconvene on Monday to deliberate in detail on the bill. Representatives from the Lawyers of Justice organization are also expected to present their views.
UDF MP Francis George Backtracks on Support
In a surprising development, UDF MP Francis George, who had previously announced his support for the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, retracted his statement on Thursday.
George clarified that his earlier comments were misinterpreted and emphasized that his stance aligns with the UDF and Congress. The MP from Kottayam stated that he never explicitly endorsed the bill.
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