Wed Oct 30 11:13:30 UTC 2024: ## Chaos Erupts at JPC Meeting on Waqf Bill as Delhi Waqf Board Backs Changes

**New Delhi:** The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) bill descended into further chaos on Monday as the Delhi Waqf Board voiced its support for the proposed changes. This sparked outrage from Opposition MPs, who accused the board’s administrator, IAS Ashwini Kumar, of acting illegally.

Opposition members highlighted that Kumar, a non-Muslim, is ineligible to serve on the Waqf Board, citing a legal provision prohibiting non-Muslims from holding such positions. They also criticized the administrator’s presentation, arguing it was delivered without the Delhi government’s approval.

“He should be booked for fraud,” demanded some Opposition members, while others insisted that a representative from the Delhi government be allowed to present the government’s viewpoint. The panel’s chairperson ultimately agreed to their request.

However, the Opposition staged a walkout in protest, citing concerns about the Waqf Board’s presentation. AAP MP Sanjay Singh argued that the presentation lacked vetting from the Delhi government, while other members alleged that the initial report had been altered without Chief Minister Atishi’s consent. Atishi herself informed the committee that the presentation should be deemed “null and void.”

The meeting also witnessed TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, previously suspended for disruptive behavior, recounting the events leading to his outburst. He accused BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay of provoking him by insulting him and his family.

“On that day, there was a hot exchange of words between Congress’s Nasir Hussain and Abhijit Gangopadhyay. I said why was he shouting? Then he started abusing me, my mother, my father, and my wife,” Banerjee said, adding that he never intended to throw a bottle at the chairperson.

The incident has further fueled tensions surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) bill, which continues to face strong opposition from various political parties.

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