Kolkata:

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee on Thursday said Donald Trump’s election as US president has proved that age is not a factor if someone has popular support, amid the debate in his party over a call for fixing a retirement age for leaders.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, TMC’s General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee had called for implementing a retirement age in politics, citing a decline in work efficiency and productivity.

“In politics, age is not the factor. If one is capable of working for the people of the country and capable of discharging all functions, if he is popular amongst the people, then he can remain in politics,” said the four-time MP from Serampore.

“Trump won the election at the age of 78,” the 67-year-old added.

The controversy on the issue within the party reached such a level a few months before the Lok Sabha polls that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had to intervene, asking young members to respect senior leaders, and dismissing assertions that the veterans should retire from politics.

The MP refused to comment on party leader Kunal Ghosh hinting that Abhishek Banerjee could become the next chief minister of West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee.

He, however, said, “When the party asks me to go, I will leave without getting into any controversy.” 

New Delhi:

There was drama, and broken glass and bandages, Tuesday – courtesy Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee – as a joint parliamentary committee met to study amendments to the Waqf Board Bill.

The energetic Mr Banerjee – who made headlines December after mimicking Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, as opposition MPs protested on Parliament’s steps – slammed a glass bottle on the table while arguing with Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a BJP MP and ex judge of the Calcutta High Court.

Mr Banerjee injured his right hand and had to be given first aid; he was escorted, by AAP MP Sanjay Singh and AIMIM MP and chief Asaduddin Owaisi, to the Parliament’s medical centre and treated for a 1.5-centimetre laceration on his right thumb and a cut on his little finger.

Visuals shared by news agency PTI showed Mr Banerjee returning from the visit to the doctor, with Mr Singh and Mr Owaisi flanking him, and the Trinamool leader being fed soup by a staffer.

Mr Banerjee has been suspended from one sitting of the committee.

Sources told NDTV a ‘scuffle’ broke out during a presentation on Odisha.

Mr Banerjee was apparently speaking out of turn; he was determined to make a point as Mr Gangopadhyay was speaking, but the BJP MP was equally determined to not concede.

#WATCH | Delhi: Meeting of the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) on the Waqf Bill begins at the Parliament Annexe. It was halted briefly after a scuffle broke out during the meeting.

According to eyewitnesses to the incident, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee picked up a glass water… pic.twitter.com/vTR7xMwOb5

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2024

A spat broke out and both MPs began using unparliamentary language, sources said. It was then that an incensed Mr Banerjee then slammed the glass bottle on the table.

The committee met last week too, and there was drama then as well.

Opposition MPs boycotted that meet claiming a “biased” committee and demanding that BJP MP Jagdambika Pal be removed as Chairperson. “We boycotted because the committee is not functioning (as per) principles and norms… In terms of ethics they are wrong,” the Shiv Sena’s Arvind Sawant said.

READ | Opposition MPs Boycott Parliamentary Committee Meet On Waqf Bill

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was tabled in Parliament in August and, amid furious protests from opposition MPs, sent to the joint committee for further study.

Back in August, in the feisty exchange that followed the proposals being tabled, the Congress called it a “draconian” measure, an “attack on the federal system”, and a violation of fundamental rights.

READ | Opposition Targets Non-Muslims Provision In “Draconian” Waqf Bill

Other opposition leaders, including Mr Owaisi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, also objected to the alterations in the Waqf laws, including the make-up of central and state boards – which could now include non-Muslims – and the councils’ ability to earmark land for various purposes.

At least three BJP allies – including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JDU and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, both of whom are critical in Mr Modi’s party maintaining its government – have also spoken out against the Waqf Amendment Bill.

READ | In Waqf Bill Row, Nitish Kumar Is 3rd BJP Ally To Raise Red Flags

Speaking after the opposition had its say, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju ripped into his rivals, declaring previous central governments (referring to those led by the Congress) could not address this issue, and that had forced the BJP-led administration to introduce these amendments.

READ | Waqf Law Change To Help Women, Say Government Sources

Among the proposed changes (apart from including non-Muslim members) is a provision to include at least two women on every board, including the Central Council. Sources have told NDTV the idea is to empower Muslim women and children who “suffered” under the old law.

With input from agencies

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