The opposition MLAs caused a massive ruckus as the West Bengal government presented its annual budget in the state Assembly on Thursday, leaving the house in disarray and drawing a strong response from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Lashing out at BJP MLAs, Banerjee stated that “this is not a BJP party office” and that if the Opposition has any concerns, they can discuss them after the session.
The budget session began with the ruling TMC MLAs singing the state song and the BJP MLAs singing the national anthem concurrently.
The commotion, however, worsened when Minister of State for Finance Chandrima Bhattacharya was reading the budget and was interrupted by BJP MLAs who began sloganeering in the house.
The Bengal chief minister slammed opposition MLAs, describing their actions as “anti-Bengal.”
“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 the Assembly, she added.
Further criticizing the Centre, Banerjee remembered how 147 MPs were suspended from Parliament, saying, “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.”
The West Bengal government released its yearly budget. The financial aid provided by Lakshmir Bhandar has been enhanced to 1,000 Rs for women in the general category and to 1,200 Rs for SC/ST women.
State Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya made the declaration while presenting the Rs 3,66,166 crore budget to the state parliament on Thursday.