Hummingbird News Desk
KOLKATA, 28 MAR: In a shocking event, the budget session of the West Bengal Assembly ended with a unimaginable anarchy on Monday, as legislators of the Trinamul Congress and the BJP involved in fights following heated arguments over the Birbhum killings.
It prompted the speaker to suspend five saffron party MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.
According to visuals accessed by Hummingbird News, MLAs could be seen crowding the floors of the Assembly, fighting each other. Following the incident, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya also took to Twitter to share a video of the chaos in the Assembly. Sharing the visuals of the fist fight that took place, Amit Malviya questioned the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government of trying to hide something.
“Absolute pandemonium in the West Bengal Assembly. After Bengal Governor, TMC MLAs now assault BJP MLAs, including Chief Whip Manoj Tigga, as they were demanding a discussion on the Rampurhat massacre on the floor of the house. What is Mamata Banerjee trying to hide?” Malviya tweeted following the chaotic incident.
Shortly after the House assembled at 11 am, it plunged into pandemonium as BJP MLAs trooped to the well, demanding a statement by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the “worsening” law and order situation in the wake of the tragedy in Birbhum district, where at least ten people were charred to death.
Speaker Biman Banerjee tried to pacify the BJP MLAs, who continued with sloganeering inside the House, leading to a war of words with legislators of the treasury bench and an eventual ugly scuffle. Mr Adhikari then walked out of the assembly, claiming that TMC MLAs roughed up party legislators.
BJP MLA Manoj Tigga was allegedly manhandled during the incident. TMC MLA Asit Majumdar also claimed that he sustained injuries in the chaos.
“MLAs are not safe even inside the assembly… At least 8-10 of our legislators were beaten up, including Chief Whip Manoj Tigga, by some TMC MLAs, as we demanded that the CM make a statement in the House on the law and order issue,” Mr Adhikari said.
TMC leader and state minister Firhad Hakim claimed the BJP is staging a drama to create chaos in the assembly. “Few of our MLAs were injured inside the House. We condemn the conduct of the BJP,” he said.
Among those who were injured in the melee were TMC MLA Asit Majumdar and BJP chief whip Manoj Tigga, both of whom were taken to hospital. Mr Majumdar claimed that Mr Adhikari had punched him on the nose, but the BJP leader denied the charge. Mr Adhikari, along with BJP legislators Dipak Burman, Shankar Ghosh, Manoj Tigga and Narahari Mahato, were suspended by the Speaker for the entire session till the House is prorogued.
Mr Adhikari also alleged that the TMC brought Kolkata Police personnel in civil dress to fight with its MLAs. A video shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya on Twitter shows a group of MLAs pushing each other and shouting, creating “pandemonium” inside the assembly.
The BJP, seeking the centre’s intervention, has organised a protest. “I’ll write my complaint to the Speaker, demanding action as per the rules,” said Mr Adhikari.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said BJP leaders tried to create disturbance both inside and outside the House. “Though the session ended today, they will continue with their disruptive politics. I urge everyone to be on guard to foil the game plan of BJP. They are demanding the CM’s statement, but when she speaks in the House, they create disturbance in the House,” Mr Chatterjee said.
The BJP, however, denied all allegations, and accused the ruling TMC of letting loose a reign of terror in the assembly. “They are running the government in an authoritarian manner. We will not tolerate this,” Mr Adhikari said, adding, he will meet the Speaker with an appeal to revoke the suspension.
Tags: #BirbhumCarnage #BengalAssembly #Chaos #BJP #TMC #SpeakersuspendsBJPMLAs