Opposition MPs boycott Waqf panel meet over charges against Mallikarjun Kharge

The opposition members on Monday staged a walkout from the joint parliamentary meeting on Waqf Bill objecting to the manner in which the proceedings were conducted. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP Arvind Sawant said the panel was not functioning as per parliamentary norms. He said personal allegations were being levelled against opposition leaders during the course of the meeting, mainly Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Sawant and other opposition MPs also criticised the committee for permitting such allegations to be raised by leaders of the ruling coalition deposed before the panel. The controversy erupted after a presentation by Anwar Manippadi, former chairman of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission. The MPs alleged that Manippadi's remarks included unwarranted accusations against the Karnataka Government and Kharge, leading to further discord.