Parliamentary Affairs minister Partha Chatterjee moved a proposal in the state Assembly on Tuesday condemning the acts of Left Front and Congress MLAs in disrupting the smooth functioning of the House. Moreover, Chatterjee condemned their attitude towards the Speaker.
Left Front and Congress MLAs had created a chaos in the House both on Monday and Tuesday morning. Breaking the rules of the House on Monday, they started shouting slogans in the Well with black cloth and placards in their hands, demanding discussion on the alleged violence that occurred during the recently held civic polls.
Again on Tuesday, they didn't allow ministers to reply during the question and answer session by raising the issue of the clashes between the police and Left Front supporters during the latter's march to Nabanna.
When Trinamool Congress MLAs and ministers were participating in the session, Left Front and Congress members shouted slogans. They were standing with pieces of black cloth in front of the ministers, restricting their ability to reply to questions properly. The situation was such that security personnel of the Assembly had to be called in. Some Left Front and Congress MLAs even jostled with them.
Voicing strong criticism, the Speaker said: "I am noticing that the activities of some members are hindering the smooth functioning of the House. Such acts are not acceptable. Today (Tuesday) some members were shouting in front of microphones when the ministers were trying to reply to questions. As a result, we couldn't hear his answer properly. At the same time, they were displaying placards, which are not allowed in the House. Moreover, it is against parliamentary norms to interrupt a member while he is speaking by making disruptive noises."
Criticising the actions of Left Front and Congress MLAs, Chatterjee said: "I move a proposal to condemn the steps taken by some members in hampering the smooth functioning of the Assembly. Instead of raising the issues of their respective Assembly constituencies, they are not allowing the House to function properly."
"The rest of the MLAs in the House are feeling insecure due to their actions, as they are obstructing ministers from replying to questions. They were trying to approach the Speaker's chair and even clashed with security personnel in the House. I feel that such acts are not acceptable," he maintained, adding that they would always welcome healthy discussions and debate on any issue.
"We have seen how a policeman was being beaten up on Monday. Should this incident not be condemned," he asked, reiterating in the same breath that they have already expressed their sorrow over the attacks on media persons. He appealed to the Speaker to take necessary action if Left Front and Congress MLAs violate norms of the House once again.
Left Front and Congress MLAs, however, didn't attend the Assembly after the recess and went to Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to protest Monday's incident.