Bengal Assembly Speaker suspends LoP Suvendu Adhikari for winter session over ‘objectionable remarks’
TMC working in unconstitutional manner, says Adhikari.
3 min read
Suvendu Adhikari speaks to the media. (Express photo by Partha Paul) West Bengal Legislative Assembly Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay on Tuesday suspended Leader of the Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari for the entire winter session for allegedly making “objectionable remarks” against him. The suspension took place during a discussion on ‘Constitution Day’ in the Assembly.
A resolution under Rule 169 was tabled in the Assembly to discuss “how the Constitution of the country was under threat”. During the discussion, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Sankar Ghosh wondered how Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs who defected from the BJP were still holding onto their posts without resigning as MLAs.
The Speaker then issued instructions to expunge the statement from Assembly records, following which BJP MLAs led by Adhikari, went to the well of the House and raised slogans against Banerjee. The BJP Legislature Party also dubbed the Speaker’s decision as “unconstitutional” and staged a walk-out from the House.
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Later, TMC MLA Tapas Ray brought a motion against Adhikari and demanded his suspension from the House, to which the Speaker agreed.
Speaking to media persons, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay said, “Suvendu Adhikari has been suspended for the entire winter session for using objectionable words and gestures towards the Speaker’s Chair. The Speaker has agreed to the motion.”
Reacting to the Speaker’s decision, Adhikari alleged that the Speaker and the ruling party are functioning in an “unconstitutional manner”. “There is no point in participating in discussions on the occasion of Constitution Day if the voice of the Opposition is not heard. I have been repeatedly saying that the provision and norms of the Constitution are being regularly violated in the House,” he said.
TMC MLAs during a dharna in front of Ambedkar statue on the West Bengal Assembly premises. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
This is not the first time that the BJP MLA from Nandigram has been suspended from attending any session of the House. In March last year, Adhikari and four other BJP MLAs were suspended from the House. However, their suspension was revoked soon after.
The BJP Legislature Party in the state Assembly is planning to move a ‘no confidence motion’ against the Speaker during the ongoing session, party leaders said.
Meanwhile, TMC MLAs later staged a protest in front of Ambedkar statue in Assembly premises t o protest against the non-payment of Central dues to West Bengal. The MLAs held placards calling for a fight against the “autocratic” government at the Centre.
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