Left stages protest with toy guns in Bengal Assembly

The protest drew <g data-gr-id="43">sharp</g> reaction from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who termed it as “undemocratic and a reflection of political frustration” of the Left.

The Left Front legislators waving toy guns demanded a response from the government and the Chief Minister over Monday’s incident at Kandi in Murshidabad district where a controversy erupted after a few people were seen brandishing pistols during a procession in which TMC flags were also spotted.

The LF MLAs then staged a walkout from the House. Later, Banerjee came to the House and condemned the incident.

“What has happened today (on Tuesday) in the Assembly is really unfortunate. It is good that I was not present here when it happened. What took place today reflects the political frustration of these political parties. I feel they (Left legislators) should also be arrested for showing pistols in the House. This is a black day,” Banerjee told the House.

“It looks good when small kids roam with toy guns ... But it doesn’t look good when elderly people brandish toy guns,” she said. 

Referring to the Kandi incident, she said orders were immediately given to police to arrest those involved in it.

“Orders were given to arrest those involved in the incident yesterday (Monday) itself. The police are investigating the case. But we have information that some TV channels had planted people there for such footage ... The police <g data-gr-id="47">is</g> probing if the guns were real or toy guns.

“The law will take its own course. During our (TMC) regime we have arrested many of our leaders like Arabul Islam and Dipak Haldar (MLA),” she said.

Hitting out at the CPI(M) and the Congress, she said, “They are staging protests by brandishing guns ... Who threw bombs and stones at police? You will only get skeletons of 34 years,” she said, referring to the recovery of seven skeletons from near CPI-M leader <g data-gr-id="48">Sushanata</g> Ghosh’s ancestral house in West Midnapore district in 2011.

“Those who publicly attacked masses should not talk much,” she said, adding the government would not work under the instructions of CPI-M and Congress, she said.