By IANS,
Kolkata : Protesting against West Bengal assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay’s decision to ban media conference inside the assembly premises when the house is not in session, Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra Monday addressed journalists on the road outside the legislature.
“Until and unless our rights are reinstated, we will have to address the media standing on the road or somewhere else,” Mishra said.
“It is a compulsion for both you and me. I will not be allowed to speak to the media inside. It is not only a question of protesting, it is a compulsion,” he said.
Mishra, of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), has also shot off a letter to the speaker registering his protest over the decision.
Bandyopadhyay declined to comment on the matter, but said he will react after reading Mishra’s letter.
“Whatever he said outside the house is a political comment. I have nothing to say about it. But after reading his letter I will say whatever I have to say,” Bandyopadhyay told IANS.
The Left Front had earlier termed the incident as an unprecedented attack on constitutional democracy.
Meanwhile, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee also questioned the presiding officer’s decision, terming it “not necessary”.
“The decision of a speaker regarding matters of assembly is supreme. So I will not criticise the decision. But I personally feel the decision was not necessary,” he said.
Chatterjee said legislators should be given the freedom of staying in touch with the legislators.