Bengal assembly adjourned sine die

Kolkata, Dec 4 (UNI) The winter session of the West Bengal Assembly, that began on November 17, was adjourned sine die today after passing some important bills and witnessing unprecedented fracas by the opposition.

Adjourning the assembly sine die, Speaker Hasim Abdul Halim refused to make the customary thanks giving speech stating that the present situation in the House did not call for such custom.

He only thanked Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, his cabinet colleagues and all other members for their participation in the proceedings.

On the concluding day today the House witnessed some a walk-out by the Trinamool Congress and SUCI members protesting against the Speaker's refusal to admit separate adjournment motions.

The motion, moved by senior Trinamool legislator Saugato Roy and SUCI's Debaprasad Sarkar, sought discussion on the Singur land acquisition issue. But with Mr Halim rejecting both motions, the AITC and SUCI members walked out in protest.

However, CPI(M) members from Rajarhat Robin Mondal and government chief whip Mohammad Mashi brought two privilege motions against Trinamool Supremo Mamata Banerjee and all her 29 MLAs for last Friday's 'vandalism' in the House and defaming its image.

While the Speaker admitted the motions and referred them to the privilege committee, another privilege motion sought by Mr Sarkar against the chief minister for 'ridiculing' his party during a speech, was rejected forcing Mr Sarkar to walk out of the House for the second time during the day.

Later Mr Halim told UNI in his chamber that since Ms Banerjee is an MP he has to refer any action against her to the Lok Sabha and ask the committee to forward it for suitable action.

Regarding the proposed action against 29 of the 30 AITC MLAs, Mr Halim said pending the assessment of the damage, payment of salaries and other monthly allowances for all of them have been suspended.

The House had spared Trinamool member Tarak Banerjee as he was not present in the House during the incident, the speaker said.

Later, the House passed through voice votes, the Calcutta Hackney Carraige (ammendment) Bill 2006 and the State Prevention of Defacement of Property Repealing Bill, 2006.

The bills were moved by Mr Bhattacharjee and welcomed by the members with thumping of desks.

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