Agartala: Except two Congress legislators – Gopal Roy and Birjit Sinha, all other opposition MLAs of the CPM, TIPRA Motha, and Congress walked out from the first day of budget session on Friday, protesting against the decision to suspend five opposition MLAs, including the senior most member of the House, Congress member Sudip Roybarman.
At the beginning, leader of the opposition party Animesh Debbarma inquired about the status of his adjournment motion, seeking action against BJP MLA Jadab Lal Nath. Nath had been caught allegedly watching obscene videos during the last assembly session in March of this year.
The speaker, Biswabandhu Sen, refused to allow them to speak and instead directed the Finance Minister, Pranajit Singha Roy, to present the budget for the 2023–24 Financial year. The opposition leaders descended into the well of the house along with all 27 opposition legislators.
They raised a slogan seeking action against Nath and continued for 40 minutes. During the protest, suddenly three MLAs from TIPRA Motha—Nandita Reang, Brishaketu Debbarma, and Ranjit Debbarma—climbed on a table in the house and continued their protest.
Aggrieved with the protest, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha requested the Speaker to suspend five opposition MLAs from the session for disturbing and undermining the decorum of the house during the budget session.
Consequently, the Speaker Sen suspended Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman, TIPRA Motha MLAs – Birshaketu Debbarma, Ranjit Debbarma, and Nandita Reang, as well as CPM MLA Nayan Sarkar, from the day’s business.
Protesting the decision, the entire opposition walked out of the house except for two Congress MLAs, who later left the house when the speaker refused to withdraw his ruling.
