Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari with MLAs stage a protest at the Legislative Assembly during the Budget Session, in Kolkata on February 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and three other Bharatiya Janata Party legislators were on Monday (February 17, 2025) suspended from the House for a period of 30 days.
The other legislators who were suspended by Speaker Biman Banerjee for creating ruckus in the House were Agnimitra Paul, Biswanath Karak, and Bankim Ghosh.
The Opposition members led by the Leader of Opposition started protesting after the Speaker refused to hold a discussion on an adjournment motion tabled by Ms. Paul. The motion stated that Saraswati Puja celebrations were not allowed in certain parts of the State.
Soon after the motion was disallowed, Mr. Adhikari and some other legislators descended into the well of the House and raised slogans. They also tore papers tabled on the desk of members and hurled it towards the chair of the Speaker.
Speaker Banerjee said the behaviour of the BJP legislators in the manner that they tore of up official papers that were given to them and threw it at the chair, was unacceptable.
“In this regard, [Trinamool Congress MLA] Nirmal Ghosh brought a motion today. He has said that because of this behaviour they should be suspended for the next 30 days of the session. The motion was sent to vote. Accordingly, they were suspended,” the Speaker said.
Fourth suspension, says Suvendu
Mr. Adhikari, while speaking to journalists outside the Assembly, said this was the fourth time that he has been suspended since 2021.
“We have won on the votes of Hindus and I am proud that I have been suspended for raising the issues of Hindus. This is an anti-Hindu government,” Mr. Adhikari said.
The Nandigram MLA said the BJP legislators will boycott Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the House till his suspension remains in effect. Mr. Adhikari said that the BJP legislators have been kept out of the House so that there are no disruptions when the Chief Minister speaks in the House on Tuesday. He added that BJP MLAs will hold a dharna at the State Assembly gate from noon on Tuesday.
Ms. Paul told journalists outside the State Assembly that Saraswati Puja had to be held at some places in the State with police protection, including the one at a law college in Kolkata with orders from the Calcutta High Court. Ms. Paul said the protest and the walkout by the BJP MLAs was in protest against the Speaker’s refusal to a discussion on the adjournment motion brought by her and some other party legislators.
Prior to this, Mr. Adhikari was suspended in November 2023 for making objectionable remarks against the Speaker. Before that incident, the LOP was suspended in March 2022 and the suspension was revoked seven months later.
Meanwhile, several MLAs took part in the discussion on the Governor’s address in the House on Monday. In all, 24 MLAs, nine of BJP and 15 of Trinamool Congress took part in the discussion.
The BJP legislators claimed the Governor read out whatever speech was sent to him by the State government and there was no mention of “deteriorating” law and order situation. Governor C.V. Ananda Bose addressed the House on February 10 and the Budget for 2025-26 was tabled in the House on February 12.
Published – February 17, 2025 02:27 pm IST