Suvendu Adhikari, Mamata Banerjee
NEW DELHI: The West Bengal Assembly on Thursday witnessed uproar as MLAs of the ruling TMC and opposition BJP raised slogans, disrupting a discussion on a government resolution concerning alleged atrocities against Bengali migrants. The disruption began when chief minister Mamata Banerjee was about to speak on the resolution. BJP legislators raised slogans and questioned the suspension of Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on September 2, leading to strong protests from the treasury benches. Addressing the House, Banerjee accused the BJP of being against Bangla-speaking people. “I condemn BJP for their persecution of Bengalis. A time will soon come when not a single BJP MLA will remain in Bengal. The people themselves will ensure it. BJP will face inevitable defeat, for no party that wages linguistic terror against Bengalis can ever win Bengal,” she said. She also called the BJP a party of “vote chor”. “BJP is a party of vote-chors, corrupt to the core, persecutors of Bengalis, and masters of deception. BJP is a national disgrace, and I condemn them in the strongest terms,” Banerjee said. The chief minister further accused the BJP of blocking a discussion on alleged attacks on Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. “Why is the BJP against discussion on the attacks on Bengali migrants? It is because these incidents are taking place in states ruled by the party. They want to suppress the truth,” she claimed. Amid continuous sloganeering, Banerjee asked, “Why is the BJP not allowing me to speak in this House?” She added, “We are not against Hindi or any other language, but the BJP is clearly anti-Bengali. Their attitude shows a colonial and dictatorial mindset. They want to turn West Bengal into their colony.” As the protests continued, Speaker Biman Banerjee suspended BJP chief whip Shankar Ghosh for the rest of the day for creating disorder. When Ghosh refused to leave, assembly marshals were called in and he was dragged out of the House. Later, BJP MLAs Agnimitra Paul, Mihir Goswami, Bankim Ghosh and Ashok Dinda were subsequently suspended as the ruckus intensified. BJP legislators alleged that water bottles were thrown at them from the treasury benches during the commotion. Marshals remained on guard inside the House to prevent any physical clash between the two sides. Banerjee criticised the conduct of BJP legislators, saying they were trying to derail a discussion on the situation of Bengali migrants.Intensifying her criticism, the Bengal CM also alleged that the BJP’s “ideological ancestors” had betrayed the country during the freedom movement.”The BJP is a party of dictators. Their ancestors did not fight for India’s Independence; they betrayed the country,” she said.As the exchanges grew heated, some MLAs from the treasury benches moved towards the opposition benches, prompting marshals to step in. The uproar forced Banerjee to briefly pause her speech.She further alleged that the BJP-led Union government had “sold the prestige” of India before foreign powers, claiming that the Centre was “at times begging before the United States, and at times before China.”Meanwhile, replying to CM Mamata Banerjee’s address in the House, West Bengal LoP and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, “She abused the Modi community…Mamata Banerjee will have to go. A case will be registered against her.” Despite the ruckus, the House was not adjourned.
