Didn't reveal Parliamentary committee proceedings on Waqf Bill: Jagdambika

Jagdambika Pal, who heads the Parliamentary committee on Waqf Bill, on Wednesday rejected the Opposition's allegations that he had violated norms by going public about TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee smashing a glass bottle and hurling it at the chair during a meeting of the panel. “I have not revealed any proceedings or deliberations of the committee. I have only made statement about an incident of violence during the committee meeting by a member and his subsequent suspension,” Pal said.

DMK member A Raja and AAP member Sanjay Singh had alleged that Pal had violated rules of procedure for conduct of Parliamentary committee meetings, which were conducted in-camera.

“I have always adhered to the rules of parliamentary procedure and upheld the dignity of the House,” Pal said. He said as the chairman of the joint committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, he made a statement on the incident of violence during the meeting of the panel on Tuesday involving a member and the subsequent action against him.

The panel's meeting hit the headlines after Banerjee smashed a glass bottle and threw it allegedly towards the chair following a heated argument with BJP member Abhijit Gangopadhyay. Banerjee ended up cutting his own fingers and was administered first aid.

The panel decided to suspend the Trinamool member for a day from the committee proceedings.