CPI(M) walks out of the Assembly thrice to protest on

The opposition CPI(M) thrice walked out of the Tripura Assembly on Monday to protest on different issues.

In the zero-hour CPI(M) MLA Sudhan Das raised an issue about attack on opposition MLAs in the state during last eight months. He referred to alleged attacks on himself at Belonia in South Tripura district, Narayan Chowdhury at Bishalgarh in Sipahijala district and Ratan Bhaumick at Udaipur in Gomati district.

The Deputy Speaker Biswabandhu Sen tried to stop Das during his speech and tried to continue with other business of the House.

The opposition MLAs alleged that they were not allowed to speak in the House and staged the first walk out.

However, they joined the session in second half of the day.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb moved an amendment bill for the Tripura Cooperative Societies Act in the second half of the days business when opposition CPI(M) MLA Tapan Chakraborty alleged that the bill was proposed to legalise breaking up of statutory bodies in different levels of the three-tier panchayat.

Following a series of argument, the opposition members staged a walk-out for the second time.

The chief minister also moved a host of other Bills including Tripura Urban Planning and Development Bill, Criminal Law (Tripura amendment) Bill, Tripura Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Reservation (third amendment) Bill and Tripura Shops and Establishments (fourth amendment) Bill today.

The shops and establishments bill proposed to withdraw a section of the existing law which mandated 1.5 days closure of all shops and trading outlets in all markets of the state.

Opposing the Bill, former Industries and Commerce minister and CPI(M) MLA Tapan Chakraborty said it would pave way for exploitation of workers in shops and other trading concerns at the hands of owners.

Chakraborty demanded to withdrawal of the Bill and said labour rights of 8-hours daily work and 1.5 day holiday every week would be adversely affected if the proposed bill was passed.

In response, the chief minister said that the state government would earn more revenue if shops and trading concerns remain open for all 7 days of the week, which would benefit people through different schemes and projects in return.

Deb claimed a "change of mindset" was needed to adapt to the revised rules.

"It is wrong to identify owners, entrepreneurs or shopkeepers as enemies. Owners and workers have to work together to bring profit. This mindset of identifying owners as enemies has to be changed," Deb said in an oblique reference to the communist ideology of class struggle.

After their objections were denied, the opposition CPI(M) MLAs staged a walk-out for the third time.