Was unwell & in hospital: NCP’s Sharad Pawar faction MP Suresh Mhatre who skipped vote on Waqf Bill | Thane News

THANE: Bhiwandi NCP (SP) Lok Sabha member Suresh Mhatre, also known as Balya Mama, said he was absent during voting on the Waqf Amendment Bill as he was unwell.
Mhatre’s absence comes in the midst of strident protests in Bhiwandi against the Act, including one on Saturday night where thousands of functionaries from Aalmi Tehreek Raza Academy, All India Sunni Jamiatul Ulama, and other groups representing the ‘Ahle Sunnat wal Jamaat’ movement participated. They claimed the Act was against the Constitution as it infringed on the fundamental rights of people.
“I was unwell and was hospitalised during the session. I was not expecting the Bill to be tabled in the Lok Sabha. It came unexpectedly. Unfortunately I fell ill the day before the session and was hospitalised,” Mhatre told reporters. “I did not skip the session intentionally,” said the NCP (SP) MP, who was on the Joint Parliamentary Committee set up on the Bill. The NCP (SP) has been opposed to the Waqf Amendment Bill.