West Bengal Assembly Speaker H. A. Halim on Friday accepted a privilege notice against three Trinamool Congress MLAs who obstructed him from leaving the House, saying their action amounted to breach of privilege.
The notice of breach of privilege and contempt was moved by RSP legislator Tapan Hore under Rule 226 against Trinamool Congress legislators Firhad Hakim, Arup Biswas and Dibyendu Adhikary.
Mr. Halim accepted the motion for discussion in the next session since today was the closing day of the current one.
Demanding termination of their membership, Mr. Hore said that the conduct of the three members was unbecoming and derogatory.
Trinamool Congress members, who entered while Mr. Hore was moving the motion, began shouting along with Congress members and the lone SUCI member.
CLP leader Manas Bhuniya said that the Chief Minister should have been present in the House yesterday when Leader of the Opposition, Partha Chatterjee raised the motion under Rule 319 highlighting the failure of the Left Front government.
Stating that as per convention the Chief Minister should be present in the House, Trinamool Congress legislator Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay claimed that Mr. Halim had assured him as such during the Business Advisory Committee meeting.
Mr. Halim, however, countered him saying that at no point of time had he said that the Chief Minister would be present in the House.
As per ethics, the Speaker said, the Chief Minister should be present, but it was not mandatory and the government could depute any cabinet minister to reply in his absence.
Mr. Halim said that he had informed the Opposition as soon as he came to know that the Chief Minister would not be present due to exigencies of work and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sailen Sarkar would speak on his behalf.
The Speaker said he fell ill yesterday and had to undergo a checkup by physicians, adding he told the media yesterday that he was obstructed and not assaulted.
“It does not mean I was not mentally assaulted.”
The Speaker fell ill and had to be administered oxygen when Trinamool Congress member Arup Biswas tried to prevent him from leaving after he adjourned the House for the day.
