BJP walks out of assembly over price rise discussion
Times of India | 3 August 2024
Kolkata: State agriculture minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay’s “high fuel price” jab at BJP MLAs on Friday culminated in a noisy walkout by the opposition benches in the state assembly. BJP had demanded a discussion on price rise but walked out saying speaker Biman Banerjee allotted them limited time.
After an adjournment motion was read out by BJP MLA Narahari Mahato, Banerjee assigned 20 minutes for discussion.“State govt has failed to curb the role of middlemen as the administration has failed to act upon the CM’s announcement,” Mahato said.
Chattopadhyay then launched a scathing attack on BJP, saying raising the issue of price rise did not suit a party that had imposed GST on medical equipment. “The price of essential commodities is dependent on the rise in fuel price. You all know that. Yet, you are trying to politicise the issue while remaining silent on crucial matters like election bonds and rise in price of medicines. Taskforces are going into retail markets, trying to bring the prices of food items under control,” he said.
The minister then got in a war of words with state leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Other BJP legislators complained that they were not given enough time to discuss such a crucial issue. BJP MLAs led by Adhikari walked out of the House. Outside the assembly gates, they shouted the slogan ‘eto daam, khabo ki? (What will we eat if the price is so high?)’, carrying bags of potatoes and placards. MLA Agnimitra Paul sat on the road in protest.
Banerjee said it was unfortunate the opposition walked out even after time was allotted to discuss an issue raised by them. “The minister was replying. Some may like the reply, some may not. But all have to be heard as demanded in the system of parliamentary democracy,” he said.