"Queen of thieves": Day after being suspended from WB Assembly, LoP Suvendhu Adhikary rages at CM Mamata
Nov 29, 2023
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 29 : Day after being suspended from the West Bengal Assembly for the ongoing Winter Session, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday went ballistic at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her the "queen of thieves".
The LoP on Thursday led a protest against the ruling Trinamool Congress on the premises of the state legislative assembly.
The protest, on a day when the BJP organised a mega show of strength in the heart of Kolkata, came at the same time when the TMC members, led by Mamata, were holding a sit-in against the alleged non-payment of central funds under MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana.
Bedlam broke inside the Assembly, as well, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah was addressing the BJP gathering in Kolkata, with members of the Treasury and Opposition benches trading barbs and raising slogans against each other.
Meanwhile, the LoP took to his official handle on X to say that while he couldn't make a long speech at the BJP rally due to a 'sore throat', he could sense from the teeming thousands who massed at the event that they were 'pumped up' for the Lok Sabha elections next year.
"My 'sore' throat prevented me from giving a proper speech, but the number of people 'soared' at the venue to make it a historic event. The humongous crowd came to listen (to) Hon'ble Union Home Minister; Shri @AmitShahJi's speech and they were pumped up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Every @BJP4Bengal Karyakarta & Supporter is inspired & in high spirits," the BJP leader posted from his official X handle on Thursday.
"The ones protesting below Ambedkar's statue are thieves. To restore the pride and prestige of our Assembly, we are raising our voices and holding a mirror to this government. A minister, who is in jail for so many days, continues to hold his portfolio. We are here protesting and chanting that Abhishek's (Mamata's nephew Abhishek Banerjee) aunt is a thief," a BJP leader said at the show of strength in Kolkata on Thursday.
Adhikari was suspended earlier, on Wednesday, for allegedly making "objectionable remarks" against Speaker Biman Banerjee.
State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay hit out at the LoP, saying he had never heard a member address the Speaker of the House in such an 'insulting' manner.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly, Tapas Roy, proposed that a motion be adopted seeking Adhikari's suspension from the House for 'misbehaving' with the Speaker.
"I have been in this House for 32 years but have never seen anything like this. It was shameful for an elected member of this House, the Leader of the Opposition, no less, to address the Speaker in such a manner. He was suspended for his misconduct inside the Assembly," Roy said.
Chaos erupted inside the House on Wednesday after the BJP members questioned the legitimacy of MLAs, who defected from the saffron party to the TMC but continue to hold positions at the House and remain members.