Kolkata: Both former Lok Sabha Speaker
Somnath Chatterjee and former Assembly speaker H A Halim on Wednesday
opposed the plans of the Mamata Banerjee government to revive
the Legislative Council in West Bengal.
"No fruitful purpose will be served by the Legislative
Council which will entail huge expenditure to the state
which is reeling under a financial crisis," Chatterjee told
agency adding the move was undertaken to fulfil the election
pledge of the Trinamool Congress.
Stating that no council had proved its justification
in some states at present, Chatterjee said "It is just an
imperial legacy."
Former speaker Hasim Abdul Halim, who was the
presiding officer for a record 29 years, also opposed reviving
the council saying "there is no use having a second talking
shop when the state is in the grip of a financial crisis.
"What is the purpose of reviving the legislative
council abolished in 1969 when even the Congress joined the UF
government`s move? It is lack of practical thought," he said.
The council had proved to be redundant and expensive
at that time and it was amazing that the present state
government had not yet spelt out the purpose for reviving it,
he said.
PTI
