'Person with huge nuisance value': TMC defends Kalyan Banerjee after scuffle with BJP MP at Waqf meet

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress came in support of its MP Kalyan Banerjee after a scuffle broke out between him and BJP's Abhijit Gangopadhyay during the Joint Parliamentary Committee meet on Waqf Bill.

TMC called the incident unfortunate and criticized the BJP MP, calling him a person with huge nuisance value.

"We are not aware of what exactly occurred or happened. However, it is a very sad incident and it should not have happened. Most importantly, we must point out that the person involved in this incident BJP MP Abhijit Ganguly is notoriously known as a person with huge nuisance value. Kalyan Banerjee is a proven parliamentarian for 4 terms. He is a veteran parliamentarian and Abhijit Ganguly is a new entity in the parliament," said TMC leader Jay Prakash Majumdar.


Banerjee reportedly lost his cool and smashed a glass water bottle after a heated exchange of words with the BJP MP. The TMC MP hurt his thumb and index finger in the process and had to be given first aid.

He was later suspended for one day from the parliamentary committee for his unruly conduct after a resolution moved by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was passed by 10-8.

The incident happened when the committee, chaired by BJP's Jagdambika Pal, was listening to the views of a group of retired judges and lawyers. The opposition members questioned what was their stake in the Waqf Bill.

Earlier, on Monday also, there were heated exchanges as opposition members raised questions on "the consultative process" over the legislation and BJP members countered them.

Some opposition members accused the government of bringing the bill for political reasons and alleged that it was aimed at targeting Muslim community. They also raised questions over "urgency" concerning the legislation.

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