Key Takeaways
- Suvendu Adhikari and 5 BJP MLAs suspended from West Bengal Assembly for wearing shirts with a political message.
- The suspension sparked a controversy in Sandeshkhali village, where women are leading a protest against TMC leaders.
- Sahjahan Sheikh, a TMC leader, is absconding since January 5 and is involved in the controversy.
Kolkata: Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and five other BJP MLAs were suspended for the remaining budget session of the West Bengal Assembly on Monday by Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay, official sources said.
The punitive action from the Speaker followed after the BJP Legislative members entered the House wearing shirts written in red colour that “they are with Sandeshkhali”, an area in North 24 Parganas where the village People, especially the women, began agitation against some ruling TMC leaders, including that of Sahjahan Sheikh, who is absconding since January 5.
The Speaker objected to wearing such shirts, and in retaliation, the BJP members shouted slogans.
After the Speaker’s pronouncement of suspension of the BJP MLAs, Adhikari led the walkout and shouted slogans condemning the clamping of the prohibitory orders and alleged torture by the state police and TMC goons on Sandeshkhali villagers.
Besides Adhikari, Agnimitra Paul, Bankim Ghosh, Tapashi Mondal, and Mihir Goswami and Shankar Ghosh have been suspended for the remaining budget session.
