News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal Assembly

  • CAA, dengue, remarks on Prez – issues that will rock winter session of Bengal Assembly on Monday

    By IANS

    KOLKATA: With the winter session of West Bengal Assembly scheduled to commence from Monday, major ruckus is expected on the floor of the House over fracas between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP mainly on three major issues.

    The BJP legislators under the leadership of opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari are preparing to go all out demanding a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the derogatory comments made by MoS in-charge of Correctional Services Department, Akhil Giri, concerning the looks of President Droupadi Murmu.

    At a rally in Nandigram on Friday, Giri had reportedly said, “We don’t judge anyone by their appearance… We respect the office of the President. But how does our President look?”

    After facing severe criticism from different quarters, the Trinamool Congress had on Saturday censured its leader, while Giri also apologied for his comments referring to the President.

    “Despite such a derogatory statement from a minister, the Chief Minister is still silent. What does this mean? We demand immediate removal of Akhil Giri as a member of the legislative Assembly as well as a statement from the Chief Minister,” Adhikari said.

    ALSO READ | Furore in Odisha over Akhil Giri’s comment on Prez Murmu, parties unite in demand for his arrest

    The second point of fracas will be a probable motion to be brought by Trinamool Congress condemning the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the recent developments over it after the decision of the Union government to grant citizenship status to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and currently living in Gujarat’s Mehsana and Anand districts.

    BJP legislator Agnimitra Paul has said that as soon the motion is brought on the floor of the House, BJP legislators will oppose it as directed by the leader of the opposition.

    Senior Trinamool legislator Tapas Roy said that since CAA is something which is floated by the BJP before any election, just as it has been done before next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat, Trinamool Congress has decided to oppose this drive by bringing a motion in the Assembly condemning the CAA.

    “Our party’s stand, as said by our leader Mamata Banerjee, is clear. We do not oppose granting citizenship. But that does not mean that it would be done isolating a particular community,” he said.

    The third point of fracas can be BJP trying to bring a motion condemning the state government’s failure to control dengue as well the latter’s reluctance to share related data with the Union Health Ministry.

    Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Minister, Firhad Hakim, has claimed that BJP is unnecessarily trying to politicise the issue by spreading rumours of not sharing data with the Union government.

    KOLKATA: With the winter session of West Bengal Assembly scheduled to commence from Monday, major ruckus is expected on the floor of the House over fracas between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP mainly on three major issues.

    The BJP legislators under the leadership of opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari are preparing to go all out demanding a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the derogatory comments made by MoS in-charge of Correctional Services Department, Akhil Giri, concerning the looks of President Droupadi Murmu.

    At a rally in Nandigram on Friday, Giri had reportedly said, “We don’t judge anyone by their appearance… We respect the office of the President. But how does our President look?”

    After facing severe criticism from different quarters, the Trinamool Congress had on Saturday censured its leader, while Giri also apologied for his comments referring to the President.

    “Despite such a derogatory statement from a minister, the Chief Minister is still silent. What does this mean? We demand immediate removal of Akhil Giri as a member of the legislative Assembly as well as a statement from the Chief Minister,” Adhikari said.

    ALSO READ | Furore in Odisha over Akhil Giri’s comment on Prez Murmu, parties unite in demand for his arrest

    The second point of fracas will be a probable motion to be brought by Trinamool Congress condemning the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the recent developments over it after the decision of the Union government to grant citizenship status to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and currently living in Gujarat’s Mehsana and Anand districts.

    BJP legislator Agnimitra Paul has said that as soon the motion is brought on the floor of the House, BJP legislators will oppose it as directed by the leader of the opposition.

    Senior Trinamool legislator Tapas Roy said that since CAA is something which is floated by the BJP before any election, just as it has been done before next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat, Trinamool Congress has decided to oppose this drive by bringing a motion in the Assembly condemning the CAA.

    “Our party’s stand, as said by our leader Mamata Banerjee, is clear. We do not oppose granting citizenship. But that does not mean that it would be done isolating a particular community,” he said.

    The third point of fracas can be BJP trying to bring a motion condemning the state government’s failure to control dengue as well the latter’s reluctance to share related data with the Union Health Ministry.

    Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Minister, Firhad Hakim, has claimed that BJP is unnecessarily trying to politicise the issue by spreading rumours of not sharing data with the Union government.

  • ‘Don’t believe PM behind misuse of CBI, ED’: Mamata as resolution against agencies’ ‘excesses’ passed

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she doesn’t believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behind the alleged excesses of central agencies in the state. She instead blamed a section of the BJP leaders for misusing them to serve their interests, adding that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) now reports to the Union Home Ministry, controlled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Banerjee, who was speaking on a resolution in the Assembly against the ‘excesses’ of the central probe agencies, urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the agenda of the union government and the interests of his party do not get mixed up.

    The BJP opposed the resolution which was later passed by the Assembly.

    “The present union government is behaving in a dictatorial way. This resolution is not against anyone in particular, but against the biased functioning of the central agencies,” Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said.

    “Businessmen are leaving the country and running away. They are running away because of fear and misuse of ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the CBI. I believe Modi hasn’t done this,” she told the assembly during a debate before the resolution.

    “Many of you don’t know that the CBI doesn’t report to the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) anymore. It reports to the Home Ministry. Some BJP leaders are conspiring and they go to Nizam Palace often,” the Chief Minister added.

    READ HERE | Bengal first state to pass resolution against ED, CBI and other central agencies in Assembly

    Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said such a “resolution against the CBI and ED” is against the rules and regulations of the Assembly.

    The resolution was passed through division, with 189 voting in favour of it and 69 against.

    Central agencies such as CBI and ED are probing into several cases in the state, in which senior TMC leaders are accused.

    (With online desk inputs)

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she doesn’t believe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behind the alleged excesses of central agencies in the state. She instead blamed a section of the BJP leaders for misusing them to serve their interests, adding that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) now reports to the Union Home Ministry, controlled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Banerjee, who was speaking on a resolution in the Assembly against the ‘excesses’ of the central probe agencies, urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the agenda of the union government and the interests of his party do not get mixed up.

    The BJP opposed the resolution which was later passed by the Assembly.

    “The present union government is behaving in a dictatorial way. This resolution is not against anyone in particular, but against the biased functioning of the central agencies,” Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said.

    “Businessmen are leaving the country and running away. They are running away because of fear and misuse of ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the CBI. I believe Modi hasn’t done this,” she told the assembly during a debate before the resolution.

    “Many of you don’t know that the CBI doesn’t report to the PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) anymore. It reports to the Home Ministry. Some BJP leaders are conspiring and they go to Nizam Palace often,” the Chief Minister added.

    READ HERE | Bengal first state to pass resolution against ED, CBI and other central agencies in Assembly

    Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said such a “resolution against the CBI and ED” is against the rules and regulations of the Assembly.

    The resolution was passed through division, with 189 voting in favour of it and 69 against.

    Central agencies such as CBI and ED are probing into several cases in the state, in which senior TMC leaders are accused.

    (With online desk inputs)

  • Hearing of Mukul Roy disqualification case to begin again in Assembly: West Bengal Speaker

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The hearing into Mukul Roy’s disqualification as an MLA will begin again in West Bengal assembly, Speaker Biman Banerjee, who had earlier dismissed a petition on it, said on Monday. Assembly sources said the hearing in the case is likely to begin this Friday. “The honourable court has sent a reminder. I will look into it legally. I will call both parties and hold a hearing,” Banerjee told reporters here.

    Calcutta High Court had last week set aside the speaker’s order dismissing a petition by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari seeking disqualification of TMC lawmaker Mukul Roy as a member of the House on the ground of defection and restored the matter for fresh consideration.

    Roy, a former BJP national vice-president, had defected to the ruling TMC from BJP in June 2021 after winning the assembly poll in West Bengal on a BJP ticket. In February this year, Banerjee had dismissed Adhikari’s petition of June 17, 2021 seeking Roy’s disqualification as an MLA under the anti-defection law for switching sides after the election.

    BJP MLA Ambika Roy had moved the HC in July last year challenging Roy’s election as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and prayed for the nomination of an opposition member to the post as per tradition.

  • West Bengal Assembly to discuss extension of BSF’s jurisdiction on November 17

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The West Bengal assembly will on November 17 discuss the extension of BSF’s jurisdiction from the international border, TMC chief whip Nirmal Ghosh said on Friday. Speaking to reporters at the assembly, Ghosh said the decision was taken at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier criticised the Centre’s move to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF), alleging that it was an attempt to interfere with the federal structure of the country.

    The BJP-led central government had amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.

    The state assembly on Friday passed a resolution, carving out Bally Municipality from the Howrah Municipal Corporation area to help people get better civic amenities. Municipal Affairs Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya tabled the proposal as the House proceedings began and TMC’s Bally MLA Rana Chatteejee and Kandi MLA Apurba Sarkar spoke in favour of the resolution.

    Bhattacharya said the decision was taken in the interest of the people, so that they do not travel all the way to Howrah for getting their work done. Sixteen wards of Bally Municipality were merged with 50 wards of Howrah Municipal Corporation in 2015.

    Following the bifurcation, now the number of wards is likely to be rearranged. Ghosh said that the Howrah Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill will be tabled in the assembly on November 16. The state cabinet approved the bifurcation in January.

    “We want to give better amenities to every citizen, hence this decision was taken. If anyone opposes it, they are doing it for political reasons,” Bhattacharya later told reporters, replying to a question on BJP’s opposition to the move.

    Meanwhile, Harischandrapur MLA Tajmul Hussain raised the issue of a skulk of foxes attacking a village in his constituency in the Malda district, injuring around 40 people. As Forest Minister Jyotipriyo Mallick was not present in the House, he urged Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay to draw the minister’s attention.

    Kandi MLA Apurba Sarkar flagged the issue of delay in the construction of Ranagram bridge in Murshidabad district, stating that it is causing immense hardship to the people. No BJP MLA was present in the House on Friday.

    The assembly was adjourned till November 15.

  • Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee files affidavit in HC on PIL for Mukul Roy’s removal as PAC chief

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Thursday filed an affidavit in the Calcutta High Court in connection with a PIL seeking removal of MLA Mukul Roy from the post of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.

    A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice R Bharadwaj directed that the matter will be taken up for hearing again on August 24.

    The Speaker submitted the affidavit on the appointment of Roy as the PAC chairman.

    BJP MLA Ambika Roy moved the PIL before the high court seeking removal of Mukul Roy from the post of PAC chairman of the West Bengal assembly, making the Speaker of the House one of the respondents in the petition.

    The state government has opposed the prayer claiming that it is the domain and discretion of the Speaker of the Assembly.

    The petitioner has claimed that the post of PAC chairman traditionally goes to an opposition member, but since Mukul Roy has joined the ruling Trinamool Congress after being elected on a BJP ticket, he should be removed from the post.

    Claiming that a court cannot interfere in the decisions of a Speaker concerning the business or conduct of an Assembly as per Article 212 of the Constitution, Advocate General Kishore Dutta had on July 30 contended before the court that the PIL was not maintainable and should be dismissed.

  • PIL filed in Calcutta HC seeking Mukul Roy’s removal from post of Public Accounts Committee chairman

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: A PIL seeking removal of MLA Mukul Roy from the post of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson in the West Bengal Assembly was moved before the Calcutta High Court on Friday, which the state government opposed contending that the matter is in the domain of the speaker.

    The petitioner, BJP MLA Ambika Roy, claimed that the post of PAC chairman traditionally goes to an opposition member, but since Mukul Roy has joined the ruling Trinamool Congress after being elected on a saffron party ticket, he should be removed from the post.

    Appearing for the state, Advocate General Kishore Dutta opposed the prayer submitting that the speaker has the sole authority in the Assembly and it is for him to decide who was eligible for the post.

    Claiming that a court cannot interfere in the decisions of a speaker when it comes to business of the House, as per Article 212 of the Constitution, Dutta argued that the PIL was not maintainable and should be dismissed.

    A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice R Bharadwaj directed the petitioner to submit a short note stating why this PIL is maintainable before the court by August 4. The state will be at liberty to file its reply to it thereafter, and the case will be listed for hearing on August 10, the bench said.

  • Forces plotting to bifurcate Bengal will be defeated: Speaker Biman Banerjee

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Tuesday asserted that forces plotting to bifurcate the state will be defeated.

    Addressing a programme of the Gorkha community in Kolkata, he said that the entire north Bengal region including the Darjeeling Hills is and will remain an integral part of the state.

    “Some forces are at work to separate north Bengal from our state. They will be defeated. Bifurcation of West Bengal will never be allowed,” he said.

    The speaker also dwelt on how Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was working towards inclusive development of all regions of the state.

    A section of BJP leaders including Alipurduar MP and central minister John Barla had recently advocated carving out a Union territory comprising north Bengal districts, alleging lack of development in the region for years.

    BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh and other leaders dissociated themselves from Barla’s statements and said that the party does not support any demand for bifurcation or division of West Bengal.

  • Mukul Roy appointed as chief of Public Accounts Committee in Bengal Assembly, BJP stages walkout

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, who recently switched over to the ruling camp in Bengal after winning the assembly polls on a BJP ticket, was on Friday appointed as the chairperson of Public Accounts Committee in the Assembly by Speaker Biman Banerjee.

    BJP MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, staged a walkout in the Assembly, protesting against this decision. Roy, officially a BJP MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar, joined the TMC last month. However, he did not resign as an MLA, despite being asked to do so several times by the saffron party.

    The TMC leader was elected as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in June. Adhikari said that an opposition MLA is usually appointed as the PAC chairman in accordance with the norm, but the TMC misused that rule to appoint Roy as its chairman.

  • West Bengal Assembly passes resolution for creation of legislative council

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution supporting an Ad-hoc committee report that favoured the creation of a legislative council, amid opposition by the BJP.

    The resolution – ‘Consideration of report of the ad hoc committee to examine the recommendation for creation of a Legislative council’ — was moved by state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee under Rule 169 of the Procedures of Conduct of Business of the House.

    Voting was duly held, with 196 of the 265 members present in the House supporting the creation of the council and 69 opposing it. The BJP legislative party, while opposing the resolution, said the TMC wants to pursue “backdoor politics” to help party leaders get elected as lawmakers despite having lost the assembly polls.

    The saffron party also argued that the move would put pressure on state exchequer. Echoing the BJP, lone ISF MLA Naushad Siddiqui also opposed the resolution.

  • Bengal Governor forced to cut short address in Assembly amid ruckus by BJP legislators 

    By Express News Service
    KOLKATA: The opening session of the newly constituted West Bengal Assembly on Friday got off to a stormy start as Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was forced to cut short his inaugural speech amid ruckus by opposition BJP MLAs who took offence after finding “no mention” of post-poll violence in the address. 

    The Governor arrived at the Assembly and was received by Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay. He started reading out the address and skipped the middle portion of it. While concluding, Dhankhar read out the portion where it was mentioned that a section of the group in society is trying to divide people of Bengal and obstructing the state government’s beneficiary schemes, and that’s when the BJP legislators started shouting. Dhankhar could barely speak for four minutes as BJP MLAs, carrying posters and pictures of alleged victims of post-poll violence, rushed to the well of the House to stage a protest. To counter them, TMC MLAs, too, shouted denying BJP’s allegations.     

    According to the Assembly sources, the Governor began his speech at 2 pm and ended it at 2.04 pm, as his voice became inaudible.  Amid sloganeering, Dhankhar tabled the speech after reading a few lines from an 18-page address approved by the state Cabinet.

    “There was no mention of post-poll violence in the Governor’s speech which happened after the counting of the election results. Surprisingly, in the draft, it was mentioned that there was no post-poll violence in Bengal. We felt that it may be possible that he was saddened with the content of the speech drafted by the CM and that is why he cut short his speech,’’ said Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.On June 28, after returning from his north Bengal trip, Dhankhar said he had requested the CM to make changes to the speech but she turned down the proposal saying it was approved by her cabinet.