Kolkata: Opposition CPI(M) members staged a
walkout in West Bengal assembly today in protest against
Panchayat and Rural development minister Subrata Mukherjee
reading out something which they alleged had not been
circulated among the MLAs.
The walkout was staged when Mukherjee was replying to a
calling attention.
After reading out the circulated reply justifying the
transfer of financial powers of zilla parishads(ZP) of
Murshidabad, Nadia and North 24 Parganas to the district
magistrates, Mukherjee was reading out a letter written by
Leader of the Opposition of Murshidabad ZP to the government
on irregularities taking place there.
The CPI(M) members led by Leader of the Opposition Surya
Kant Mishra rose from their seats and protested loudly saying
the letter was not circulated and questioned how the minister
could read it out in the house.
Mukherjee replied that the letter was only a supporting
document corroborating the action taken by his department.
The CPI(M) members then rushed to Speaker Biman
Bandopadhyay and tore the circulated speech before walking out
of the house.
Later, Mishra told reporters that ministers cannot read
out any speech during calling attention which was not
circulated as per rules of the assembly.
Mukherjee refuted Mishra`s claim saying there was no
need to circulate supporting documents.
Congress member Asit Mitra, who was also a part of the
calling attention motion, stayed inside the house.
PTI
