Left legislators walk out over attack on former Bengal minister

Left Front members staged a walk out from the West Bengal Assembly Monday after an adjournment motion seeking a discussion on the attack on a former minister was disallowed.

The LF members also asked for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement on the issue.

Naren De, minister in the erstwhile Left Front government, and a septuagenarian leader of LF partner All India Forward Bloc, was assaulted allegedly by Trinamool Congress supporters Sunday evening at Dhaniakhali of Hooghy district.

With injuries in eye, hand and leg, Dey has been admitted to a city hospital.

Soon after the day's proceedings began in the assembly, LF representatives attempted to raise the issue, but Speaker Biman Banerjee said since an adjournment motion has been tabled on the issue, the LF members should broach the matter when the motion came up.

But after Forward Bloc lawmaker Tajmul Hussain read out a part of the motion, his microphone was switched off, while a Trinamool Congress legislator Asima Patra made some angry comments, leading to a shouting match between members of the treasury and opposition benches.

After some time, the LF members walked out, and stayed away from the proceedings for the rest of the day.

Senior Left legislator Anisur Rehman later told reporters that more the ruling party talked about democracy, greater was the number of attacks they unleashed on the opposition.

On her side, Patra said locals had scuffled with the Forward Bloc members after the latter passed lewd comments against a woman.

However, she denied involvement of her party in the attack.