The West Bengal Assembly on Thursday witnessed more pandemonium as BJP MLAs staged a walkout, demanding a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the ongoing protests in Sandeshkhali.
Accusations of land grabbing and sexual harassment against a TMC leader and his party activities have sparked tensions in the area, with protests entering their seventh day.
Led by chief whip Manoj Tigga, the BJP legislators stormed out of the Assembly, accusing the TMC government of "total lawlessness" in Sandeshkhali.
"We decided to walk out as there is no statement from the chief minister on the issue. Total lawlessness prevails in Sandeshkhali and we are not allowed to go there," Tigga told mediapersons.
The MLAs expressed frustration at being silenced and prevented from visiting the troubled area.
Despite the ruckus, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was absent during the commotion.
While the Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay appealed for calm, the BJP MLAs resorted to sloganeering against the government before walking out.
The TMC retaliated through Chief Whip Nirmal Ghosh, claiming the BJP is deliberately trying to “disrupt” the Assembly's proceedings and create chaos in the state.
This comes after six BJP MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, were suspended earlier this week over similar protests regarding Sandeshkhali.
Meanwhile, demonstrations in Sandeshkhali reached their seventh day, with a significant number of women raising their voices against alleged atrocities by TMC men in the area.
The prime demand stand at the arrest of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates, accused of land grabbing and sexual harassment.
Sheikh has been absconding since early January when a mob attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at his residence linked to an alleged ration scam.
His disappearance and the accusations against him have fueled the current unrest in Sandeshkhali.
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