Opposition takes cue from TMC, boycotts all-party meeting

Kolkata: The Opposition parties on Tuesday boycotted the all-party meeting chaired by Speaker Biman Banerjee ahead of the Budget session of the state Assembly, which commences on February 3. The Budget will be presented on February 10 and two important bills are likely to be tabled.

“We are never given the dignity of an Opposition party. Whatever proposal we present for discussion in the House, it is turned down. So we boycotted the all-party meeting,” Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan told reporters.

Left legislative Assembly leader Sujan Chakraborty also shared the same view that the Opposition parties are not heard during the all-party meeting.

“The TMC has not been able to come out from its politics of taking control of things through their power even inside the Assembly. The way their leaders act we often are in doubt about who is the custodian of the House,” Mr Chakraborty said.

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh alleged that the government has been hatching conspiracy to arrest BJP leaders. “Even I am fearing arrest. The Opposition is not allowed to raise issues. So what was the need of attending the all-party meeting?” he said. Mr Ghosh also demanded adequate time to discuss inside the House important issues like the Bhangar land agitation.

Parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee rubbished allegations and said that the Opposition was trying to tarnish the glory of the House by behaving in such a manner for the sake of politics. “Their presence at the meeting was necessary as this would have helped the Speaker to run the Session smoothly,” he said.

The state government plans to bring amendment in the West Bengal Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1976, and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Building Rules 2009 Act, which will ensure that dangerous structures are razed immediately for the safety and security of the citizens.