Cong, Left on same page as Mamata on BJP's 'religious intolerance'

Kolkata: The Congress and the Left Front were on the same footing with Trinamool Congress at the state Assembly on Monday, when it came to raising their voices against BJP's politics of 'religious intolerance' to create disturbance in Bengal. Efforts are on in full swing to have a consensus on the issue.

State Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee, while speaking on the matter during 'mention', said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already expressed her concern over the developments.

"Bengal is not like Jharkhand or any other state. We have differences in political ideology or decisions, but we stand united when it comes to fighting against religious intolerance. If we can stand united on this issue then we will be able thwart their efforts and estrange them from the society and the people at large," Chatterjee said.

He informed the House that his party has already served a notice to the Speaker under Rule 185, urging a discussion in the House that will help members reach a consensus regarding the issue.

Later, TMC leader Tapas Roy said that Trinamool, along with Congress and CPI(M), have the same opinion regarding the crux of the matter that the saffron party's politics of religious fanaticism should not be encouraged.

"All the leaders will have the platform to share their views if the Speaker gives his nod for a discussion on the subject," Roy said.

The matter cropped up when Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan cited some recent instances of religious intolerance in the state and appealed to the government to act tough on the perpetrators who are trying to divide people along religious lines.

The Congress MLA said that there should be a consensus among political parties in Bengal, at least on this point.

Left Front leader Sujan Chakraborty shared similar views as Mannan and said that such incidents have never been witnessed in the state before. "We need to come together against religious intolerance," he added.

It has been learnt that Mannan had submitted a draft resolution to the Speaker signed by CPI(M) and Forward Bloc members, among others. "We are hopeful that the matter will be taken up at the Business Advisory Committee meeting scheduled on Tuesday," a CPI(M) MLA said.

Meanwhile, BJP legislature party leader Manoj Tigga said they would oppose the resolution.

It now rests upon Speaker Biman Banerjee to take the final call on the issue.