Synopsis
On March 11, chaos unfolded in the Bengal Assembly as BJP lawmakers walked out in protest against Speaker Bandopadhyay's decision to withhold essential documents. Tensions escalated as BJP members demonstrated against what they termed an undemocratic move. The situation highlights ongoing political strife in West Bengal.Key Takeaways
- BJP MLAs protested Speaker's document withholding.
- Adjournment motion on communal clashes was denied.
- Speaker Bandopadhyay's actions deemed authoritarian.
- Protests highlight ongoing political tensions.
- Leader of Opposition vows to escalate protests.
Kolkata, March 11 (NationPress) Disorder ensued in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday as BJP lawmakers executed a walkout, objecting to Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay’s choice to restrict the distribution of Assembly-related documents during the session.
Conflict escalated when the Speaker denied an adjournment motion proposed by BJP representatives to discuss recent occurrences of communal unrest in various regions of the state. Justifying his stance, Bandopadhyay articulated that the matter had already been discussed in the House and did not merit additional debate.
This refusal ignited a robust response from BJP MLAs, who demonstrated within the Assembly.
The uproar grew as some BJP legislators entered the well of the House, vocally opposing the ruling government. In a theatrical display of dissent, a few shredded assembly papers and documents that had been distributed to them.
In a sharp response, the Speaker declared that from that point forward, BJP MLAs would be denied any official documents or papers during the session.
The Speaker’s ruling further infuriated BJP legislators, prompting them to exit the House in protest. Their demonstration persisted in the Assembly premises, where they rallied, shouting slogans against what they labeled an “undemocratic action” by the Speaker.
Addressing the media outside the Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari denounced the Speaker’s ruling, deeming it “unprecedented and unconstitutional.”
“This is a clear attempt to suppress the opposition's voice. We have never witnessed a Speaker taking such an authoritarian measure of prohibiting opposition MLAs from accessing assembly-related documents,” Adhikari said.
Unfazed by the Speaker’s directive, Adhikari pledged to amplify BJP’s protests within the House. “We will bring our own bundles of paper daily and tear them apart in protest. This battle against the Speaker’s undemocratic decision will persist,” he asserted.
The BJP’s demonstration adds to the ongoing political discord between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition in West Bengal.
