In his statement, Speaker Bandopadhyay clarified that all actions taken during the incident were in strict adherence to the rules and legal procedures of the Assembly. “Had the BJP legislators acted according to the law of the Assembly, I would not have needed to take such strict actions,” Bandopadhyay explained. “There was never a fight in the Assembly. I have acted only as per the law,” he emphasized, rejecting claims of bias in his conduct.
He went on to criticize the BJP legislators for their unruly behavior, stating, “If anyone uses force within the assembly, the necessity arises to stop them. The BJP legislators should have acted in a much more restrained manner.” Bandopadhyay further defended the role of the marshals, saying that the interventions were essential to maintain order and ensure the smooth functioning of the session.
The Speaker also responded to accusations that he was politically biased, saying, “Many might describe me as biased personally, but my chair is not. No individual is above criticism.” He stressed that the actions taken during the session were consistent with the rules and aimed at restoring decorum in the Assembly, which had descended into chaos due to the protests.
The suspension of the five BJP MLAs — including Chief Whip Shankar Ghosh — came after a series of protests and disruptions, including BJP lawmakers tearing papers, raising slogans, and refusing to vacate their seats. Two of the suspended MLAs, Shankar Ghosh and Bankim Ghosh, were hospitalized following physical altercations with the marshals. Bandopadhyay, though acknowledging the unfortunate events, stood by his decision, underlining the importance of upholding the legal framework of the Assembly.
This statement from the Speaker sets the tone for the ongoing political controversy, with tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition BJP continuing to simmer in the aftermath of Thursday’s incident.