After a four-day gap, the budget session of the West Bengal Assembly resumed on Monday, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari were scheduled to address the house on the opening speech of Governor C.V. Ananda Bose.
However, Adhikari, along with three other Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, were suspended from the ongoing session for “unruly behaviour” on Monday. They were allegedly suspended for protesting by going down to the well of the house and for throwing official papers at Speaker Biman Banerjee.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: BJP MLAs walked out of the state assembly to protest against the state government over the Saraswati Puja issue. pic.twitter.com/ArR2N7umlv
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2025
The incident stemmed from a motion introduced by BJP MLAs concerning Saraswati puja, over a recent controversy at Yogesh Chandra Law College in Kolkata. BJP legislator Agnimitra Pal presented the motion, alleging that Saraswati puja celebrations were being restricted in West Bengal.
After moving the motion, the BJP demanded a discussion on the same, but the speaker declined. This led to BJP MLAs descending to the well of the house, and they allegedly caused a commotion by tossing business papers. They also called for a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee before staging a walkout.
Addressed the media later, Speaker Banerjee said, “The actions of the opposition leader and several members—tearing official documents and throwing them toward my chair—are highly condemnable.”
He noted that Trinamool Congress MLA Nirmal Ghosh proposed a motion to suspend four BJP legislators for 30 days or until the session’s end. The motion was passed after a vote.
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Apart from Adhikari, Pal, the legislator from Asansol South, Goghta MLA Vishwanath Karak and Chakdaha MLA Bankim Ghosh were also suspended.
Alleging that the BJP did not get the opportunity to ask why celebrations of Saraswati puja were challenged in some educational institutions in the state, Opposition leader Adhikari accused the ruling party of deliberately suspending BJP MLAs who ask strong questions and participate in debates in the house.
“Biswanath Karak was not even present in Bidhan Sabha. Yet, he was suspended,” he said. “I descended into the well. But Agnimitra Pal and Bankim Ghosh did not go there. They were protesting from their seats but they were also suspended.”
