Partha criticises LF, Cong in Vote of Thanks speech

Partha Chatterjee, Parliamentary Affairs minister, criticised the Left Front and Congress MLAs in his Vote of Thanks speech on the last day of the Winter Session of the Assembly for their walk outs rather than giving priority to constructive discussions for the benefit of the state.

Chatterjee also criticised and urged the House to condemn the disrespect shown to the Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay by giving him a letter containing “derogatory” words stating that they have boycotted the meeting of Business Advisory committee. 

He said that they (Congress and Left Front) had left the Assembly citing various excuses. The reason being that they want to be in the limelight and want to attract attention of the media when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raised a storm in the entire nation by fighting against the Centre’s hasty decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

Chatterjee, however, thanked both the Leader of the Opposition Abdul Mannan and CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty for their presence in the Assembly “though for only a handful number of days” but not encouraging constructive discussion.

Chatterjee also mentioned the decision of the state Cabinet to reduce the number of departments from 63 to 52 and ended his speech wishing a happy and prosperous new year to all. He said: “I am confident that Bengal will thrive in all aspects in the New Year under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.” He thanked the Speaker as he had given opportunities to everyone to speak in the Assembly.

The Congress and Left Front also staged a walk-out on Saturday raising the issue of child trafficking, the incident on which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee already given her statement in the Assembly and a committee was also formed to check the menace. 

The Congress and Left Front MLAs were not in the house when Chatterjee gave his vote of thanks speech followed by BJP MLA Dilip Ghosh, Deputy Speaker HA Safwi and the Speaker, who adjourned the house till the next Budget Session. Speaker said: “I have given time to the Oppositions and 11 Bills were passed in the session.”

BJP MLA Dilip Ghosh too criticised the Congress and Left Front saying: “They (Congress and Left Front) MLAs has walked out as per their habit.” He also thanked the Chief Minister for being in the Assembly to discuss important issues.