Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

TMC, Congress stage walk out in Tripura House

By Correspondent

AGARTALA, Sept 23 - Trinamool Congress on Friday staged a walk out in Tripura Assembly after Chief Minister Manik Sarkar rejected its demand to seek apology for his remark in the third edition of North East Connectivity Summit.

In the Summit yesterday, the Chief Minister exhorted the Centre not to show big brother attitude with India�s neighbours.

�What the Chief Minister had said in presence of leaders from the neighbouring country was completely anti-Indian. It has tarnished the country�s image at the international forum�, alleged Trinamool Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman during Zero Hour in the Assembly today.

He continued, �the Chief Minister had showed intolerance by making such a remark in the Summit where a Minister from Bangladesh and delegates from other neighbouring countries were present. So, he must seek apology.�

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tapan Chakraborty countered the allegation and said the CM did not speak against the country. �Can speaking against the BJP-led Government be considered as anti-Indian? The CM did not utter a word which could be branded as intolerance�, he said.

As war of words continued, the Chief Minister rubbished the charges leveled against him. �What I said in the Conclave at Prajna Bhavan is not against the country. I only suggested what should be the country�s policy with its neighbours. I have every right to make suggestion to the Union Government because I am Indian and there is no question of seeking apology�, he clarified.

After the CM�s statement, all six Trinamool Congress MLAs walked out of the House. Later, speaking to the media, TMC MLA DC Hrangkhawl said they walked out of the House in protest against the Chief Minister�s refusal to seek apology for his remark.

He said, �The way Speaker Ramendra Nath turned down a notice for seeking CBI probe into the July 23 violence was totally wrong. We also strongly oppose it.�

After the TMC walk out, Congress MLA Ratan Lal Nath came down heavily on the Speaker for rejecting a notice on the July 23 violence moved by party MLA Gopal Roy.

He said, �The issue on which the notice was submitted before the Speaker seeking a discussion on the July 23 violence is very important. It deserves to be discussed in the House�.

However, the Speaker stuck to his decision, saying, �I have disallowed the notice after examining the matter�.

Unhappy at the Speaker�s stand, the Congress MLAs also staged a walk out for the entire day.

Next Story