Union Minister of State and former BJP West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar on Monday alleged a “serious breach of privilege” after his vehicle was allegedly stopped by police outside the Kolkata airport where he had gone to see off Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The PM was in Kolkata to chair a meeting of the Combined Commanders’ Conference at the Army’s Eastern Command headquarters.

In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Majumdar wrote, “Wish to bring to your kind notice a matter of grave concern regarding the violation of protocol and contempt of privilege by the West Bengal Police…when I proceeded to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, to see off the Hon’ble Prime Minister, my vehicle was halted at the first barricade by a Sub-Inspector and a constable of the West Bengal Police.”

“At the very same time, however, the vehicle of a West Bengal Minister, Shri Sujit Bose, was permitted to pass without obstruction up to the VVIP Gate No. 4 of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata,” the letter read.

“The conduct of the said officials was further derogatory, as they attempted to make light of the situation. Upon my enquiry regarding the reason for this unwarranted action, they stated that they were acting on the instructions of the Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar, Smt. Aishwariya Sagar,” he further wrote.

The incident, he alleged, reflected that the authorities in West Bengal were deliberately disregarding the established protocol applicable to the “ministers of Government of India”.

Requesting the Speaker to ‘take cognizance’ of the matter, he added, “I, therefore, urge you to take cognisance of the matter and refer it to the Privilege Committee for appropriate examination and action.”