The West Bengal Assembly witnessed a day of turmoil on Wednesday as a war of words escalated between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The conflict, which began on Tuesday over allegations of political maneuvering in the name of religion, continued with heated exchanges between chief minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP MLAs.
The uproar intensified when BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh accused Mamata Banerjee of vandalism during her tenure as the state's opposition leader in the era of former CM Jyoti Basu. In response, an irate Mamata firmly denied the allegations, stating, "I did not break the assembly chair. If you can prove it, I will resign as Chief Minister."
Ghosh reignited the controversy over Mamata’s alleged involvement in assembly vandalism.
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"You say nothing should be sacrificed for the truth. Then admit your role in the Assembly’s vandalism, even if you weren’t an MLA back then," he said. Mamata countered with her firm challenge, declaring she would step down if any proof was provided.
Following her statement, chaos erupted leading the BJP MLAs, including Leader of the Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari, to walk out of the Assembly in protest. Outside, the BJP members demonstrated against the CM, wearing black clothes.
Reacting to the protest, Mamata remarked, "Those who are wearing black clothes are good, I like the color black! But wearing black clothes won’t help. You will remain in darkness."
When Mamata Banerjee attempted to address the assembly, BJP MLAs, including Shankar Ghosh, allegedly caused a ruckus, accusing the state government of failing to protect Hindus in Bengal. In response, the Mamata reminded them, saying, "Our party has 42 MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. They participate in discussions and committee meetings. I have repeatedly told them to contribute to running the House properly."
Shankar Ghosh then reignited the controversy over Mamata’s alleged involvement in assembly vandalism, stating, "You say nothing should be sacrificed for the truth. Then admit your role in the Assembly’s destruction, even if you weren’t a member back then."
The opposition has raised this accusation multiple times in the past. Mamata countered with her firm challenge, declaring she would step down if any proof was provided.
Meanwhile, TMC leaders Madan Mitra and Firhad Hakim recently criticised the BJP for engaging in religious politics. Referring to their statements, Shankar Ghosh remarked, "If you respect the dignity of your chair, we will do the same. If you do not, we will be forced to act accordingly."
In response, Mamata, visibly angered, stated, "Firhad Hakim and Madan Mitra have been warned at the party level for their statements.
But you (BJP) are doing much worse." She further lashed out at the opposition, saying, "Do I need a certificate from you to prove how much of a Hindu I am? Don’t deceive people. I have nothing but contempt for those who fail to speak for the people."
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