Noisy scenes in Bengal House as Left stages walkout

Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes as opposition Left Front members rushed to the well and later staged a walk-out when Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay turned down their adjournment motion on the issue of plight of farmers in the state.

The Speaker, however, allowed Mishra to read an edited version of the motion which said many farmers have decided not to go for boro cultivation owing to black marketing of fertilisers and irregularities in the supply of seeds. This was affecting agriculture production.

It said the tendency to take loans is increasing among farmers and they are becoming frustrated. There are have been instances of farmers suicide. Farmers are feeling insecure and the state government has failed to control the situation.

After reading the motion, Mishra went on to demand an adjournment, but the Speaker said the points raised in the motion did not call for an adjournment as those points have been discussed on earlier occasions.

Besides, the Opposition can discuss the points through mentions, calling attentions and questions, the Speaker said.

Left Front members then rushed to the well and walked around the reporters' table shouting slogans. Some Trinamool Congress members replied with catcalls.

The Speaker continued with the business of the House, but nothing could be heard in the din.

After shouting slogans for about half an hour, the Front members walked out of the House for the day as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee was moving the West Bengal Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2011, seeking to raise the allowances of ministers.