On the concluding day of the special session, the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday witnessed chaotic scenes again after BJP legislators disrupted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s speech, leading to the suspension of five BJP MLAs and the collapse of two legislators during forcible eviction.

As she was about to begin her speech on a resolution against the alleged atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrants in several parts of the country, BJP chief whip Shankar Ghosh sought an explanation from Speaker Biman Banerjee on why the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, had been suspended for the entire session. When the Speaker refused, BJP MLAs began shouting slogans, disrupting the CM’s address.

Annoyed, Banerjee told TMC legislators, “They are disrupting my speech… when the BJP MLAs speak, you people should also disrupt them.”

This led to a slogan-shouting match between the ruling TMC and Opposition BJP legislators for nearly 15 minutes as both sides shouted slogans of “Chor Chor”.

BLP MLA Bankim Ghosh leaves assembly. (Express photo by Partha Paul)The Speaker ordered the suspension of Ghosh and his party colleague Agnimitra Paul.  When Ghosh refused to leave, marshals were called in to escort him out physically, an act that sparked further uproar from opposition benches.

As they attempted to drag him away, BJP MLA Mihir Goswami blocked the doorway, leading to pushing and shoving between security personnel and legislators.

Amid the melee, Ghosh collapsed on the ground and complained of uneasiness. Marshals had to carry him out as BJP legislators screamed in protest.

He was later admitted to a hospital.

Later, BJP MLAs Bankim Ghosh, Ashok Dinda, and Mihir Goswami were also suspended. Bankim Ghosh, who had previously undergone a heart stent procedure, also reportedly fell ill amid the commotion and was hospitalised.

Despite the din, Mamata pressed on with her speech, pausing frequently as both sides stormed the Well of the House.

At one point, she left her chair to scold her own party colleagues, Humayun Kabir and Nirmal Ghosh, for charging toward the opposition benches.

“If you don’t listen to me, I will request the Speaker to suspend you too,” she warned her own MLAs, visibly exasperated at the lack of order.

In her speech, Mamata launched a sharp attack on the BJP, saying, “They (BJP) are again bringing CAA and NRC before the Assembly election in Bengal. They are basically anti-Bengali. They humiliate Bengalis.”

Visibly angry, she raised slogans in the House: “Modi is the biggest thief. Modi thief, BJP thief.” She added, “BJP is trying to stop my speech; if they behead, I will continue to speak for Bengali.”

Accusing the Opposition of deliberately disrupting her, Banerjee said, “I’m shocked. They deliberately did that so that people cannot hear my words. This is their programme to stop my voice. They were not present in the morning. They came shortly before I arrived. When the name was called, they did not speak. When they completed their speech, they started the chaos. I would say my voice cannot be stopped.”

She further said, “After Independence, a party that had no role in the freedom movement is now the largest robber in the country. They pit one community against another. They betrayed our nation and supported the British. They did communal division. No one will vote for the BJP in the coming days. They are an autocratic power.”

Meanwhile, BJP leaders outside the House accused the Speaker and the ruling party of bias and harassment.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari told reporters, “If they don’t want the Leader of the Opposition or BJP MLAs in the House, we will boycott it. What happened today is the darkest day in the history of Bengal’s legislature.” Adhikari alleged that Bankim Ghosh’s health condition deteriorated because of the scuffle.

With PTI Inputs