NEW DELHI:
West Bengal chief minister
Mamata Banerjee was at her combative best in state assembly on Thursday as the opposition BJP MLAs created an uproar ahead of the presentation of annual budget. Lashing out at opposition MLAs,
Mamata Banerjee
asserted "This is not a BJP party office" and if opposition has any opinion they can discuss it after the completion of the session. Coming down heavily on opposition MLAs, the Bengal chief minister termed BJP MLAs' action "anti-Bengal" activity.
"If the opposition has any opinion, they can discuss it after the completion of the budget. They have the freedom to express their opinion, but this is not a BJP office. This is not the space for opposition to do politics. People have the right to know what work we have done. We condemn this dirty politics. They are against the state, anti-Bengal," she said.
"They don't want good for the people of Bengal. Aren't you ashamed that you are not allowing us to present the budget? Your opinion can be expressed in your speech, but this is not your BJP party office, this is assembly, she added.
The chaos started as soon as the leaders assembled for the budget session with the ruling TMC MLAs singing the state song, while the BJP MLAs singing the national anthem simultaneously.
The chaos escalated as minister of state for finance Chandrima Bhattacharya was reading the budget and was interrupted by BJP MLAs, who started sloganeering in the House.
Hitting out at the BJP members, Banerjee recalled how 147 MPs got suspended from Parliament for disruptions and said, "They should remember that they have suspended 147 MPs from Parliament, but we do not want to go down that path. You can be weak, but we are not, we will fight it out. If you have the courage, speak after the budget presentation, not before that."
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