TMC, Left MLAs come to blows in Bengal Assembly

The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday plunged into chaos with MLAs of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Left Front coming to blows, resulting in the suspension of three CPM MLAs while three others suffered injuries.

In the first half of the Assembly session, Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra protested against Speaker Biman Banerjee’s decision to not to allow a discussion on chit funds.  The Speaker admitted an adjournment motion on the issue. Mishra, who read out the motion, alleged that it had been “severly edited” and the Opposition was not allowed to speak. At this juncture, Left MLAs rushed to Speaker’s podium and started shouting slogans.

Pandemonium broke out when TMC legislators rushed towards the protesting MLAs. Legislators of both parties were injured in the ensuing fist fight. The Speaker adjourned the house till 1:30 pm to prevent the situation from going out of control but the bitter clash continued even after he left the House.

When the House was reconvened, the Speaker announced the suspension of three Left MLAs – Amjad Hussain, Najimul Haq and Sushanta Besra – which led to another fracas.
Protesting the suspension, Left Front MLAs rushed to the Speaker’s podium and TMC MLAs followed suit. In the fight, opposition MLA Gourango Chattopadhya suffered injuries after he was allegedly beaten by TMC legislators and CPM MLA Debolina Hembram, who fell into the well of the house, alleged that she was pulled by her hair.

Soon after, Congress and Left MLAs walked out of the House. “Our party member Gouranga Chattopadhyay had to be hospitalised after being assaulted by TMC members and woman legislator Debolina Hembram was manhandled and filthy language was used against her,” Mishra said.

“Time and again, we have been denied our demand that an adjournment motion on important public issues be admitted. Since the TMC has come to power, all our adjournment motions for discussion have been rejected on flimsy grounds. We will continue to protest until their suspensions are revoked,” Mishra added.

Rubbishing the charges, TMC Minister Partha Chatterjee said: “The CPM has been creating trouble inside the House for the last few days. Amjad Hussain, Nazimul Haq and Sushanta Besra not only assaued the Speaker but also used filthy language against him.”