Arrogance and ignorance forced Assembly boycott: Congress

Hitting back at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for accusing it of showing discourtesy, the Opposition today said it boycotted the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Assembly because of "arrogance and ignorance" of the state government.

"It is due to the arrogance and ignorance of the government toward us that forced us to boycott the programme," Congress Legislature Party leader Mohammed Sohrab said.

Sohrab said his party wanted a discussion on various matters, including the recent rise in the price of potato, but the state government did not bother to accept the demand.

"Today the Chief Minister is taking about courtesy, but where was the courtesy when they (Trinamool) ransacked the Assembly in December 2006," asked Sohrab.

Congress and Left parties boycotted the closing ceremony, prompting the Chief Minister to criticise the Opposition, saying it was against courtesy and democracy.

CPI(M) politburo member and Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra said his party was forced to do so with a "heavy heart".

"We have been forced to take such a decision with a heavy heart. We want our right. We want to speak for the people inside the Assembly," Mishra said.