BJP MLAs walk out of Bengal Assembly after Speaker rejects adjournment motion on Maheshtala, Murshidabad violence
Tensions flared in the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday after Speaker Biman Banerjee rejected an adjournment motion brought by BJP legislators over recent incidents of violence in Maheshtala and Murshidabad.
Following the rejection, BJP MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, staged a protest in the well of the House, raising slogans against the state government. Several BJP legislators carried saffron flags bearing religious symbols and accused the government of being 'anti-Hindu.' After protesting for over half an hour, BJP members staged a walkout.
'The matter is sub-judice, so it should not be discussed in the Assembly,' Speaker Banerjee said in his ruling.
Proceedings in the House continued with TMC MLAs in attendance. Minister of State Chandrima Bhattacharya, while addressing the House, criticised the BJP for what she termed an attempt to 'instigate communal violence.'
'They entered the Assembly with the symbol of a particular religion. They can't do this,' she said.
Meanwhile, Adhikari filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta High Court on Thursday regarding the violence in Maheshtala, where a temple was reportedly vandalised.
Senior advocate Billwadal Bhattacharyya, appearing for the petitioner, submitted before a division bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De: 'Immediate deployment of Central Armed Forces in and around the said mandir premises situated in Ward No. 7, Maheshtala, adjacent to Rabindranagar Police Station, is required to restore peace, protect lives, and prevent further communal bloodshed.'
He also urged the court to direct authorities to identify the miscreants and take swift, impartial action. 'This is about safeguarding the fundamental and constitutional rights of the Hindu community, including their right to life, property, faith, dignity, and security,' he told the court.
The bench declined an urgent hearing but permitted the matter to be formally filed.
Separately, Adhikari has sought permission from the Superintendent of Police, Diamond Harbour Police District, to meet families affected by Wednesday's violence in Maheshtala. According to BJP sources, if the request is denied, Adhikari's legal counsel is expected to move the Calcutta High Court seeking permission for the visit.
Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal.
Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
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