Somnath to raise Assembly incident at Presiding Officers' Forum

Kolkata, Dec 03 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has come down heavily on the Trinamool Congress Legislators for going on a rampage in the West Bengal Assembly and said he would raise the matter at the Presiding Officers' Forum.

Mr Chatterjee told newsmen here yesterday that the incident was "despicable and shocking" and a blot on Parlimentary democracy.

The Lok Sabha Speaker stated that he would raise the matter at the Presiding Officers' Forum on a request from Assembly Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim.

Mr Chatterjee, who visited the Assembly on invitation from Mr Halim, said enacting a law against vandalising Legislators was "permissible", but it was up to the speakers of the respective Assemblies to take a decision on the matter.

" Merely enacting a law, however, will not do. It is a question of the attitude of the Legislators, " he said.

Pointing out that the West Bengal Assembly possess a rich history and tradition, he said the vandals should have realised it belonged to the people and not to the governnment.

" There may be grievances against the government. But does that justify an attack on the Assembly? If it cannot be protected, then it is a slur on the functioning of democracy in West Bengal, " he said.

He said those not following the code of conduct inside the House betray the trust of their voters. " This needs to be protested against. And this is why even a cricket coach can point a finger at us, " he added.

UNI SJC PP DB1443