Shiv Sena's Naresh Maske claims TMC MP insulted people called for informal discussions by JPC on Waqf bill

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Naresh Maske protested against the other members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, claiming that TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee insulted some witnesses called for informal discussions on Thursday in Mumbai.
The Shiv Sena MP said that certain people had come to speak in support of the Waqf bill, but TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee had shouted at the people and had told them to get out of the meeting.
"Today the JPC meeting on Waqf bill is happening in Mumbai. In the meeting, the people of Gulchand foundation witnessed the meeting and spoke in support of the Waqf bill. Then Kalyan Banerjee got up and shouted at them, told them to get out, insulted them. What kind of behaviour is this? I won't let this go in Maharashtra. The witnesses came here because JPC committee called them. They are muslim men, and because they are speaking in support of the Waqf bill, so they are being insulted?" said the Shiv Sena MP.
He also claimed that there is a competition between opposition parties on showing who is protesting the most against the bill, but that during these "competitions," no guest should be insulted.
"There is competition within the opposition parties, on who is shouting the most against the bill. During this competition, to insult any guest is unacceptable, I won't tolerate it in Maharashtra, neither will I tolerate it anywhere else. For that, I got up in the meeting and protested against such behaviour," he said.
He added further, "I said to him, do not raise your voice, speak softly, you might be senior in your house. Whoever comes as a witness, there should be respect given to them, there are a lot of witnesses coming against the Waqf bill too, they are speaking and we are listening and we respect them. The insult to guest is happening repeatedly in the meeting, yeh nahi chalega (this is not acceptable).
The JPC on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 is holding a series of informal discussions with various stakeholders for a total of five days till October 1.
These consultations aim to refine the proposed amendments to the Waqf Act, which governs the management of over 600,000 registered waqf properties across the country.
The Waqf Act, 1995, was created to regulate waqf properties, but it has long faced allegations of mismanagement, corruption and encroachments. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to bring sweeping reforms, introducing digitisation, stricter audits, transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties.
Earlier, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi hit out at the BJP over the proposed changes in the bill, saying that the bill was presented to finish the Waqf board.
"The Narendra Modi government is not bringing this bill to protect, develop or bring efficiency to the Waqf properties. This bill was presented to finish the Waqf board..."AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said in a press conference in Mumbai.