Opposition parties in WB complain of discrimination among MLAs

Opposition parties in West Bengal have complained of discrimination against their MLAs with regard to nomination of legislators to various government committees involving public interest.
"We want the same rights (as given to MLAs of the ruling party). If we are not given equal rights, we will launch a protest," West Bengal Opposition leader Abdul Mannan told reporters here today.
On behalf of opposition parties, including the Left and the Congress, the LoP has written to chief minister Mamata Banerjee complaining against alleged discrimination by the state government in the matter of nominating MLAs to different committees of state government formed for implementation and supervision of government programmes involving public interest.

He cited examples of committees relating to ICDS project, Geetanjali housing project and patient welfare committees of different hospitals besides development authorities like SJDA, ADDA, HDA, Paschimanchal Unnayan Parishad, Uttar Banga Unnayan Parishad, etc and complained that some political leaders who lost elections have been made heads of some such committees.
Mannan demanded equal treatment to all MLAs, irrespective of party affiliation.
"I will, therefore, request you to kindly review the policy and associate all MLAs equally in the implementation of state government programmes ensuring due respect to parliamentary democratic practises," Mannan said in the letter.

Left Front Legislature Party leader Sujan Chakraborty has also written a separate letter to the chief minister complaining that there have been attacks against the Left parties at the panchayat and municipal bodies level.

"We will have to start protests by coming out on the streets if these attacks do not stop," he said.
Congress leader Mannan also demanded a free and fair enquiry into the death of Kolkata youth Aabesh Dasgupta, who died after being allegedly hit by a broken alcohol bottle.
"People who are close to the chief minister are trying to influence the investigation. We want the truth to come out," he said.