TMC vows to oppose Communal Violence Bill in Parliament

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress on Thursday vowed to oppose the Communal Violence Bill and vote against it if brought in the ongoing Winter session of the Parliament.

"Why is the government trying to bring this Bill when the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and when many state governments and several major parties are also against it? What is the hurry?" Chief Whip of TMC Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha Sudip Bandyopadhyay said. "If in spite of this the government brings the Bill in this session we will not only strongly oppose it but also vote against it," he said. Party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already criticised the Centre for reviving the Bill alleging that it would impinge upon the domain of state governments in maintenance of law and order. In the name of prevention of communal violence, the Centre should not usurp the Constitutional powers of the state governments, Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, had said.