Suspended Trinamool legislators question party action

Suspended from West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress for alleged anti-party activities, legislators Seuli Saha and Silbhadra Dutta on Tuesday demanded that the party at least inform them about their "crime".

"I would humbly urge the party to inform me how, where and when did I indulge in anti-party activities. I would be grateful if they can kindly give me a proof about where and when did I make provocative remarks against the party," said Saha who represents Haldia constituency.

Dutta, who was elected from Barrackpore constituency, echoed Saha.

"We are yet to know for what crime we have been punished. Only thing that we know is we were suspended a day after attending an event. If that is the reason for our suspension, then it is very unfortunate," he said.

The duo was suspended by the Trinamool on Monday, a day after they attended an iftar party alongside sidelined party leader Mukul Roy.

Announcing the decision, Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee said the two were guilty of "indulging in anti-party activities and provoking others to quit Trinamool".

Perceived to be close to former party general secretary Roy, Saha and Dutta said they were punished without being heard.

"Roy is still a party member, attends the Rajya Sabha. I was never show caused or cautioned then why I have been suspended. If the suspension is for attending an event of the minorities, then I will attend such events a thousand times," said Saha.

"The iftar party was not organised by any political party, many people attended it including Roy. Roy continues to be a Trinamool Rajya Sabha member, he has not been suspended or expelled, so how can attending a programme alongside him, be a crime to warrant our suspension," asked Dutta.

The suspensions come in the wake of speculation that Roy - a one time close lieutenant to Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee - is likely to float a party of his own.

Credited as the architect of the Trinamool's electoral success, Roy was stripped of all party posts. His relations with the party deteriorated following his quizzing by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the multi-crore rupee Saradha scam.