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The Indian political scene is currently marked by a heated debate surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill, with allegations of misconduct and intimidation swirling around a recent Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has accused opposition members of threatening the JPC chairperson, Jagdambika Pal, during a meeting on October 14th, claiming that the opposition displayed 'unparliamentary behavior' and disrupted the proceedings.
The meeting, which was convened to hear the views of former Karnataka State Minorities Commission chairperson Anwar Manipaddy on the alleged 'Waqf land scam' in Karnataka, witnessed a sharp escalation in tensions. Manipaddy had submitted a report in 2012 alleging large-scale encroachment or sale of approximately 2,000 acres of Waqf land, valued at around Rs. 2 lakh crore, to private entities. This report implicated certain leaders of the Indian National Congress, further fueling the political firestorm.
Surya alleges that opposition MPs, in response to Manipaddy's testimony, engaged in aggressive tactics, including verbal threats directed at both the JPC chairperson and the witness. He claims they tore up committee documents, physically approached the chairperson and witness, attempted to snatch notes and papers, and made derogatory remarks before walking out of the meeting. The BJP MP has formally requested the Lok Sabha speaker to take disciplinary action against the opposition members, citing their actions as a blatant disregard for Parliamentary decorum and the Rules of Conduct.
However, the opposition MPs have countered these allegations, accusing the JPC chief of conducting the proceedings in a biased and partisan manner. They have sent a separate letter to the Lok Sabha speaker, alleging 'gross violation of parliamentary code of conduct' during the meeting. The escalating rhetoric and conflicting narratives highlight the deep political divide and the heightened tensions surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining decorum and adhering to parliamentary norms during legislative processes. It remains to be seen how the Lok Sabha speaker will respond to the conflicting accounts and whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the individuals involved. The public scrutiny and ongoing debate surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill raise critical questions about transparency, accountability, and the appropriate conduct of parliamentary proceedings.
Source: ‘Opposition MPs threatened JPC chief’: Tejasvi Surya's big claim on Waqf bill meeting