LoP Questions Lack of Live Streaming for Bengal Assembly Sessions
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Synopsis
On March 18, 2023, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, questioned why live streaming is not offered for Assembly sessions, highlighting transparency issues and the rights of citizens to observe their elected representatives in action.
Key Takeaways
- The Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, questions the absence of live streaming for Assembly sessions.
- He emphasizes the right of citizens to observe legislative activities.
- Concerns raised about the government’s transparency and accountability.
- Adjournment motions by BJP legislators are reportedly not being accepted.
- Budget approvals for the police department occur without discussion.
Kolkata, March 18 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, raised a question on Tuesday regarding the absence of live streaming for various sessions of the West Bengal Assembly. He stated, “Citizens can view Assembly sessions live in smaller states like Manipur, Goa, and Arunachal Pradesh. It is exclusively in West Bengal that such live streaming is prohibited,” he remarked.
Adhikari made these comments to the press outside the Assembly, following a walk-out by BJP legislators when their adjournment motion was not accepted by Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay.
He asserted that the populace of any state has the right to ascertain whether their elected representatives are addressing pertinent issues within the House. “Why are the citizens of West Bengal deprived of this service? Why does the state government fear live streaming?” the LoP inquired.
According to him, the state administration is resistant to live streaming due to its lack of integrity regarding its obligations to the House.
“Our legislators are consistently denied the opportunity to speak within the House. Adjournment motions are repeatedly dismissed. Media cameras are prohibited inside the House. As a result, we are compelled to voice our concerns and demonstrate outside the House,” stated the LoP.
He claimed that the BJP legislators' adjournment motions are intentionally not accepted because the government is aware that its members would be unable to respond to the questions raised by Opposition MLAs.
On this occasion, Suvendu Adhikari also expressed that budgetary allocations for the state home (police) department have been approved without any debate on the floor of the House year after year since the current Trinamool Congress government assumed power. “This is unprecedented,” the LoP emphasized.
It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is personally responsible for overseeing the state home (police) department.
