Left Front members demand revocation of suspension

Left Front members today walked out of the West Bengal Assembly demanding revocation of the suspension of three CPI(M) MLAs.

Speaker Biman Banerjee had suspended the three CPI(M) members, Nazmul Haq, Sushanta Besra and Amjad Hossain for unruly behaviour yesterday, after the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition CPI(M) members scuffled and traded blows in the House resulting in injuries to three MLAs.

The Speaker said that the suspended members did not tender any apology and he could not revoke the suspension on his own.

He said "a motion would have to be moved under ruling 348 of the assembly rules to know the sense of the house." Banerjee suggested an all-party meeting be held before the business advisory meet which was rejected by the Left Front members.

 

CPI(M) MLA Gouranga Chatterjee had received head injuries yesterday and was taken to hospital as also two TMC MLAs, Mahmuda Begum who was hit in the chest, and Pulak Roy who was injured in the leg.

Trouble had broken out after Question Hour yesterday when an adjournment motion by Left members on mushroom growth of chit funds in the state was admitted, but a discussion was disallowed.

The short four-day winter session of the Assembly will end tomorrow.

"We had not taken a rigid stand, that is why we went to the Assembly today," Mishra said. "But they (Trinamool Congress) demanded that those attacked should apologise, while not taking into account whatever happened in the second half."

Demanding revocation of suspension, he said "without giving opportunity to clarify their position, they were punished. This violates principles of natural justice. There is no question of apologising for their actions.

"The House belongs to the Opposition, but the way things are happening, it apparent that the government does not want any opposition in the Assembly," he said.

Claiming that the Left had wanted an amicable solution to the situation arising out of yesterday's violence, he said that the Treasury Bench's stand was uncalled for.