TMC moves privilege motion against Suvendu for dishonouring National Anthem
Telegraph | 10 February 2024
The Trinamul Congress on Friday moved privilege motions against six BJP MLAs, including leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, for dishonouring the National Anthem and the state song on Thursday on the floor of the Assembly.
"We have given the notice of privilege motion against Suvendu Adhikari and five other BJP MLAs who disrespect and dishonour the National Anthem and the state song on Thursday inside the Assembly. The Speaker has forwarded the notice for further course of action," said Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, the state parliamentary affairs minister.
Mamata has recently announced Rabindranath Tagore's "Banglar mati, Banglar Jol" as the state song. It is now mandatory to play the song at the beginning of all state government functions and the National Anthem at the end.
Chattopadhyay said that despite the existence of a government circular regarding performing the state song before any government event, the BJP MLAs intentionally started singing the National Anthem in the middle of "Banglar mati, Banglar jol".
"It simultaneously disrespected both the National Anthem and the state song," said the Khardaha MLA.
Speaker Biman Banerjee, who accepted the notice of privilege motion, said that he would forward for further action.
The Assembly witnessed an unprecedented ruckus on Thursday after the Speaker instructed all MLAs to stand for the state song "Banglar mati, Banglar jol".
BJP legislators stood up but began singing the national anthem. Mamata Banerjee reminded them that the anthem was sung at the end of any event and cautioned BJP MLAs against treating the Assembly as their party office.
Adhikari said Trinamul had brought such motions on six occasions.