Three days after West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay disallowed press conferences by members in the media centre inside the Assembly premises when the House is not in session, Leader of the Opposition Surya Kanta Mishra, in a rare move on Monday, held a press conference on the pavement outside the Assembly.
“Until our rights are restored, we will have to address the media by standing on the road …or anywhere else,” Dr. Mishra said while addressing journalists on Auckland Road outside the North Gate of the Assembly.
“It is not only a question of protesting, it is a compulsion – a compulsion for both you and me. Neither are you nor am I allowed to speak inside,” he told journalists.
“Can't be scrutinised”
Mr. Bandopadhyay reacted to Dr. Mishra's criticism and said that a decision of the Speaker was not liable to any scrutiny. “This is a rule,” Mr. Bandopadhyay told The Hindu, adding that there were precedents in this regard.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Mishra also wrote to the Speaker registering his protest over the matter. Asserting that the Leader of the Opposition as well as all legislators should be allowed to address journalists inside the Assembly throughout the year, Dr. Mishra said, “You cannot say that you will not have democracy except on the days when the Assembly is in session… democracy has to prevail on all 365 days.”
Alleging that the political compulsions of those at the highest level of government are behind the incident, Dr. Mishra emphasised that he was not questioning the authority of the Speaker. “The use of the Constitutional authority determines good governance or bad governance,” Dr. Mishra said.
Dr. Mishra added that he was willing to participate in an all-party meeting to discuss the matter if it was convened.
Yet to read letter
“I have not yet examined the letter (from Dr. Mishra). After examining it I will decide on the matter,” the Speaker said, on being questioned about the possibility of calling an all-party meeting to resolve the crisis.
A letter signed by Secretary of the Legislative Assembly sent to the Leader of the Opposition on February 10 read, “Speaker has directed me to inform all concerned that henceforth no press meet in the media centre inside the Assembly House premises will be held except during the Assembly session”.
This has invited strong reactions from leaders of the Left parties who described the move as “an unprecedented attack on Parliamentary democracy.”
