NEW DELHI: TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee , during an ugly spat with BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay at the JPC meeting on Waqf Amendment Bill Tuesday, lost his temper, smashed a glass water bottle and threw it towards panel chairperson Jagambika Pal , injuring his own fingers and getting himself a one-day suspension .
During the heated exchange, Banerjee and Gangopadhyay, a former Calcutta HC judge, attacked each other. A panel member said Banerjee used a "five-lettered" expletive while referring to Gangopadhyay, leaving all members, including those from the opposition, stunned.
"The behaviour of the MP was unprecedented and crossed all limits," Pal, an MP from UP's Dumariyaganj, said. He added that he had a narrow escape. "MPs enjoy privilege, does it mean someone will appear with a revolver tomorrow?" a visibly upset Pal told reporters.
Pal said he has apprised LS Speaker Om Birla about the development. "It was in a way a criminal act that could have badly hurt me. His conduct is a blow to parliamentary democracy ," he added.
"Kalyan Banerjee, a member of the JPC on Waqf, is suspended for one day and two sittings under rule 261 and 374(1) (2) of Lok Sabha for his choice of words against the chairman of the committee, Jagdambika Pal, and for his behaviour of throwing a broken bottle at the chairman," read a motion moved by panel members and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
The Trinamool Congress MP was suspended with 10 votes cast in favour of the motion and eight against it. However, BJP MPs insisted for a suspension from the panel for the entire session.
Sources said after the intervention of a few opposition members, the chairperson and MPs of the governing party agreed for a day-long suspension on the condition that Banerjee will be careful about his behaviour in future. Banerjee can't attend both sessions of the next meeting - likely to be held on October 28.
While Pal said it has become the Trinamool Congress member's habit to use cuss words, some opposition members claimed that Gangopadhyay also targeted him.
The panel chairperson said he and other members tried to calm things when the TMC MP picked up the glass bottle, smashed it, and threw it towards him. Banerjee ended up with cuts on his thumb and little finger in his right hand as a stunned Pal adjourned the meeting. Banerjee was administered stitches at a dispensary in the Parliament complex.
Sources said Banerjee expressed regret for smashing the bottle and claimed he never meant to throw it towards Pal, while still accusing him of "biased" behaviour.
Gangopadhyay, however, was visibly upset at the one-day suspension for Banerjee and that the motion made no mention of the verbal attack on him. He is likely to take up the issue at the highest level, a source said.
During the heated exchange, Banerjee and Gangopadhyay, a former Calcutta HC judge, attacked each other. A panel member said Banerjee used a "five-lettered" expletive while referring to Gangopadhyay, leaving all members, including those from the opposition, stunned.
"The behaviour of the MP was unprecedented and crossed all limits," Pal, an MP from UP's Dumariyaganj, said. He added that he had a narrow escape. "MPs enjoy privilege, does it mean someone will appear with a revolver tomorrow?" a visibly upset Pal told reporters.
Pal said he has apprised LS Speaker Om Birla about the development. "It was in a way a criminal act that could have badly hurt me. His conduct is a blow to parliamentary democracy ," he added.
"Kalyan Banerjee, a member of the JPC on Waqf, is suspended for one day and two sittings under rule 261 and 374(1) (2) of Lok Sabha for his choice of words against the chairman of the committee, Jagdambika Pal, and for his behaviour of throwing a broken bottle at the chairman," read a motion moved by panel members and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
The Trinamool Congress MP was suspended with 10 votes cast in favour of the motion and eight against it. However, BJP MPs insisted for a suspension from the panel for the entire session.
Sources said after the intervention of a few opposition members, the chairperson and MPs of the governing party agreed for a day-long suspension on the condition that Banerjee will be careful about his behaviour in future. Banerjee can't attend both sessions of the next meeting - likely to be held on October 28.
While Pal said it has become the Trinamool Congress member's habit to use cuss words, some opposition members claimed that Gangopadhyay also targeted him.
The panel chairperson said he and other members tried to calm things when the TMC MP picked up the glass bottle, smashed it, and threw it towards him. Banerjee ended up with cuts on his thumb and little finger in his right hand as a stunned Pal adjourned the meeting. Banerjee was administered stitches at a dispensary in the Parliament complex.
Sources said Banerjee expressed regret for smashing the bottle and claimed he never meant to throw it towards Pal, while still accusing him of "biased" behaviour.
Gangopadhyay, however, was visibly upset at the one-day suspension for Banerjee and that the motion made no mention of the verbal attack on him. He is likely to take up the issue at the highest level, a source said.
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