Bengal Assembly Speaker Reaches Out to Minister After Microphone Muting Incident
In a significant development at the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Saturday, Speaker Biman Banerjee made an unusual move by visiting the office chambers of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay. This visit followed a contentious incident where the speaker muted the minister's microphone before he could complete his allocated two-minute speech during a heated session.
Privilege Motion Sparks Tension in Assembly
The controversy erupted when the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) formally moved a breach of privilege motion against BJP legislator Agnimitra Paul. The motion was in response to Paul's remarks made in the assembly a day earlier, where she allegedly stated that "criminals are produced in madrassas." Her comments were promptly censored and expunged from the official proceedings, leading to the TMC's action.
As the TMC presented the privilege notice, BJP legislators staged a walkout in protest, escalating the political tension within the assembly. Speaker Banerjee indicated that he would announce his decision on the notice at a later time, setting the stage for further debate.
Microphone Muting Incident and Speaker's Response
When Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay rose to speak on the privilege notice, he discovered that his microphone had been muted, preventing him from addressing the assembly. In response, state minister Aroop Biswas requested Speaker Banerjee to allocate time to Chattopadhyay. However, the speaker firmly replied, "You cannot pressure me," and added that if Chattopadhyay's name had been on the speaking list earlier, he would have been given the opportunity to speak.
This response did not sit well with Chattopadhyay, who is considered one of the most veteran legislators in the TMC. The incident highlighted underlying tensions and procedural disputes within the assembly, raising questions about communication and protocol.
Unusual Protocol Break and Aftermath
After the first half of the session concluded, Speaker Biman Banerjee took the unconventional step of visiting Chattopadhyay's office chambers. Such a move is rare and represents a break from standard parliamentary protocol, typically reserved for formal settings. Despite this gesture, both officials declined to comment on the matter publicly, leaving the details of their discussion undisclosed.
The incident underscores the ongoing political friction in the West Bengal Assembly, where procedural matters and privilege motions have become focal points of contention between the ruling TMC and opposition parties like the BJP. As the situation develops, observers are keenly watching for any further actions or statements from the involved parties.
