TMC Lawmakers Propose Privilege Motion Against Opposition Leader Over Remarks

TMC Takes Action Against Opposition Leader's Comments

A faction of senior lawmakers from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) introduced a privilege motion on Tuesday against the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, for making what they termed 'derogatory and false' remarks about Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee outside the assembly premises.

Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee confirmed the submission of this motion. It was a response to Adhikari's alleged statements made to the media, where he claimed that the Chief Minister had praised Pakistan during her speech in the assembly, asserting that she did so with such eloquence that even Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had never done so.

A TMC leader indicated that several ministers, including Chandrima Bhattacharya, Shovandev Chattopadhyay, Arup Biswas, Indranil Sen, and MLA Nirmal Ghosh, have signed the complaint. Mayor and Minister Firhad Hakim is also expected to add his signature on Wednesday.

The Assembly Speaker mentioned to a news agency, 'I have received the proposal, but I have not yet conducted any investigation or granted approval. I will review it at the appropriate time, and if deemed appropriate, I will forward it to the assembly's privilege committee. If I find the complaint baseless, I may reject it.'

An official noted that if the complaint is accepted, the Speaker will refer it to the privilege committee chaired by Deputy Speaker Ashish Banerjee. The committee may then summon Adhikari to present his side and decide whether any disciplinary action should be taken against him.