NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs Monday walked out of a meeting of parliamentary panel examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill alleging that it was not functioning in accordance with rules, after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge was accused by a deposer of being involved in the Waqf land scams in Karnataka.
Opposition MPs walked out after deposition by Anwar Manippady, ex-vice-president of Karnataka BJP and former chairman of Karnataka State Minorities Commission, who accused Kharge of being involved in Waqf land scam.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee meetings over the bill have been marked by the exchange of heated words between its BJP and opposition members and things turned stormy Monday as the latter also questioned the rationale behind calling members of Hindu groups for deposition on a law concerning Muslims.
Manippady named several Congress netas from Karnataka, including Kharge and Rehman Khan, and others for their alleged involvement in embezzling Waqf properties.
The opposition MPs cited rules regulating parliamentary committees’ proceedings to claim that “unproven allegations” against “high dignitaries” cannot be made at such meetings. Manippady, they said, also made an appeal to Muslims not to oppose the bill, which too was out of line.
However, a senior BJP MP argued that the matter should be left to be decided by either the chairman, BJP’s Jagdambika Pal, or be allowed to be settled by vote, which was not accepted by the opposition and they boycotted the meeting. An opposition MP said allegations cannot be levelled against someone who is not there to defend himself.
Pal overruled the objections and allowed Manippady to continue. A BJP member said the deposition was relevant as Manippady’s claims pertained to Waqf properties.
Opposition MPs, including Congress’ Gaurav Gogoi and Imran Masood, A Raja of DMK, Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, SP’s Mohibbullah & AAP’s Sanjay Singh, stormed out of the meet and expressed strong sentiments against its proceedings.
The committee is not functioning in accordance with rules and regulations, Sawant told reporters. The opposition members held a separate meeting later to decide their next course of action. They are expected to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Tuesday over the panel’s functioning.
Opposition MPs walked out after deposition by Anwar Manippady, ex-vice-president of Karnataka BJP and former chairman of Karnataka State Minorities Commission, who accused Kharge of being involved in Waqf land scam.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee meetings over the bill have been marked by the exchange of heated words between its BJP and opposition members and things turned stormy Monday as the latter also questioned the rationale behind calling members of Hindu groups for deposition on a law concerning Muslims.
Manippady named several Congress netas from Karnataka, including Kharge and Rehman Khan, and others for their alleged involvement in embezzling Waqf properties.
The opposition MPs cited rules regulating parliamentary committees’ proceedings to claim that “unproven allegations” against “high dignitaries” cannot be made at such meetings. Manippady, they said, also made an appeal to Muslims not to oppose the bill, which too was out of line.
However, a senior BJP MP argued that the matter should be left to be decided by either the chairman, BJP’s Jagdambika Pal, or be allowed to be settled by vote, which was not accepted by the opposition and they boycotted the meeting. An opposition MP said allegations cannot be levelled against someone who is not there to defend himself.
Pal overruled the objections and allowed Manippady to continue. A BJP member said the deposition was relevant as Manippady’s claims pertained to Waqf properties.
Opposition MPs, including Congress’ Gaurav Gogoi and Imran Masood, A Raja of DMK, Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, SP’s Mohibbullah & AAP’s Sanjay Singh, stormed out of the meet and expressed strong sentiments against its proceedings.
The committee is not functioning in accordance with rules and regulations, Sawant told reporters. The opposition members held a separate meeting later to decide their next course of action. They are expected to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Tuesday over the panel’s functioning.
