Opposition claims that the public statements by the head of the Waqf Par panel violated norms

Pal rejected the allegations made by DMK member A Raja and AAP member Sanjay Singh, stating that he had not made the committee’s proceedings public but spoke about an incident of violence that took place during the meeting.

Raja and Singh termed Pal’s statements to the media regarding the incident involving Banerjee during a committee meeting on Tuesday as “unfortunate”.

Raja alleged that Pal, a seasoned BJP member, has been conducting the panel meetings hurriedly, raising “doubts that he will not be able to serve justice”.

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Pal said he did not reveal any deliberations of the parliamentary committee, but made a statement about an incident of violence that occurred during the panel meeting.

“I did not reveal any procedures or deliberations of the Committee. I only made a statement regarding an incident of violence committed by a member during the committee meeting and his subsequent suspension,” Pal told PTI.

“I have always adhered to the rules of parliamentary procedure and defended the dignity of the House,” the BJP MP said.

He said that as chairman of the Joint Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, he made a statement regarding the incident of violence during the panel’s meeting on Tuesday involving a member and the subsequent action against him.

Echoing Raja’s views, Singh said the opposition members have decided not to make any statement on the incident involving Banerjee.

“Firstly, it is not in accordance with the rules to make a public statement about what happened during the meeting. It is very regrettable that the President made a statement to the media,” Singh said.

Raja also questioned the way the process was being handled by Pal.

“Despite the untoward incident that occurred at the meeting, the attitude and manner in which the meetings are hurriedly conducted by the chairman, (it) creates doubts in the minds of members and the public that justice will not be ensured.

“We will fight to defend our democratic and secular values, despite the obstacles,” said Raja in a publication on X.

The BJP and Opposition members were involved in bitter fights during the Committee meetings considering the controversial bill, described as a necessary reform by the government and criticized as interference in the religious affairs of Muslims by India bloc parties.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said Banerjee’s conduct was an insult not only to parliamentary traditions but also to parliamentary institutions and the Constitution.

He said Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and the INDIA bloc, should clarify their stand on the incident.

“This is also an insult to the thousands of voters who elected him (Banerjee) and sent him to Parliament. … I want to ask all the leaders of the Congress Party and the INDI alliance what is their stand on this matter,” he said .