West Bengal: LoP Suvendu Adhikari, 3 BJP MLAs suspended over Saraswati Puja

Leader of the opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari was suspended for unruly behaviour today, 17 February, alongside three other BJP MLAs — Agnimitra Paul, Bankim Ghosh and Bishwanath Karak — for 30 days.

The day's agenda was disrupted by an adjournment motion brought by the BJP to highlight alleged intimidation in some places in the state over organising Saraswati Puja earlier this month.

Paul was the one who brought the adjournment motion and demanded to read it out. Once she was permitted, the BJP MLAs then wanted a discussion on the matter. However, speaker Biman Banerjee did not allow a discussion immediately, and the BJP MLAs created a huge uproar in protest. 

The opposition leaders raised slogans one after another against chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the state government. They then, by Adhikari's own admission, "tore up the minutes of the assembly" and staged a walkout.

Amidst the uproar, the speaker suspended the four MLAs for insulting his chair.

The opposition members apparently came expecting this outcome, as they brought placards of the same anti-government slogans as well and continued to demonstrate outside.

The fracas was ostensibly over a case filed in Calcutta High Court regarding a ‘ban on Saraswati Puja’ in the state. Adhikari claimed he had personally faced threats for wanting to perform Saraswati Puja. 

The worship of the ‘Vidya Devi’ had to be done under the supervision of armed police and IPS officers, he claimed, after the police were deployed with the court order.

Adhikari went on to allege that the Trinamool Congress does not respect the Constitution and parliamentary system.

Adhikari said, 'BJP MLAs are being targeted' and alleged that MLA Vishwanath Karak was not even present in the assembly but had been suspended.

The opposition leader has been suspended four times thus far. However, he seemed to think he held the power here, warning, "If there is no opposition leader, the BJP will boycott the chief minister." 

Adhikari said he would deliver a speech at the gate of the assembly during the chief minister’s address in the assembly on Tuesday, 18 February, since he was not allowed within.