Kolkata Police has filed an FIR in opposition to 12 BJP legislators, together with the Chief of Opposition (LoP) within the West Bengal Meeting Suvendu Adhikari, and get together chief whip Manoj Tigga, for allegedly “insulting” the nationwide anthem on the state Meeting premises, as reported by information company IANS on Thursday.
In response to the FIR, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said, “It is extremely unusual that an FIR is being lodged in opposition to our 12 MLAs as a result of we have been protesting on behalf of the individuals of Bengal who’re struggling resulting from Mamata authorities’s alleged malpractices”.
Paul accused the Trinamool Congress of corruption and claimed they “weren’t allowed to talk on essential points contained in the Meeting”. She highlighted situations the place the get together’s makes an attempt to handle issues like corruption, violence, and rapes have been allegedly hindered.
“Do we have to take their permission? We weren’t allowed to talk inside, once we needed to speak and convey an adjournment movement on corruption, you (TMC) would not allow us to converse. You will not allow us to converse on incidents of violence, corruption, rapes… you turn our mic off, and once we elevate our voices, slogan in opposition to this, you name the police, give us FIRs,” Agnimitra was heard saying in a video posted by information company ANI on X (previously Twitter).
#WATCH | Kolkata: BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul says, “It is extremely unusual that an FIR is being lodged in opposition to our 12 MLAs as a result of we have been protesting on behalf of the individuals of Bengal who’re struggling as a result of Mamata authorities has cheated the individuals of Bengal. They (TMC) have completed… pic.twitter.com/m8OAZ1gNA5
— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023
Addressing Mamata Banerjee, Paul questioned her dedication to nationalism, referencing a earlier case the place the Chief Minister confronted prices associated to the Nationwide Anthem in 2021. “CM Mamata Banerjee, a woman who questions our military, navy, and airforce, do we have to be taught nationalism from her?”
“She, who was sitting on the chair when the Nationwide Anthem was being performed in 2021, and a case had been lodged in opposition to her?” she added additional.
It’s to be famous that in October of this 12 months, a Mumbai metropolitan courtroom dismissed a criticism in opposition to Banerjee alleging disrespect for the nationwide anthem. The criticism was filed by BJP functionary Vivekanand Gupta, however the courtroom dismissed his plea, stating that no offence in opposition to the Trinamul Congress chief was established.
FIR In opposition to 12 BJP MLAs For ‘Insulting’ Nationwide Anthem:
The Kolkata Police filed an FIR in opposition to 12 BJP MLAs, together with the Chief of Opposition (LoP) in West Bengal Meeting Suvendu Adhikari and get together chief whip Manoj Tigga, for allegedly “insulting” the nationwide anthem on the state Meeting premises.
Throughout a protest session, a gaggle of BJP legislators, led by the LoP, gathered on the Meeting premises for a celebration mega rally attended by Union House Minister Amit Shah. The legislators have been seen shouting “thieves, thieves” slogans, directed on the ongoing demonstrations.
Subsequently, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee complained to Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay, asserting that the BJP legislators have been elevating slogans whereas the ruling get together MLAs have been singing the nationwide anthem, deeming it an insult.
She requested the Speaker to take mandatory authorized steps in response to the alleged offence. The Speaker promptly summoned the deputy commissioner (central division) of Kolkata Police, below whose jurisdiction the state Meeting falls, and three Trinamool Congress legislators handed over a criticism letter concerning the incident.
An FIR in opposition to the 12 BJP MLAs was registered based mostly on this criticism.
The controversy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon when Trinamool Congress legislators, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, protested close to B.R. Ambedkar’s statue inside the Meeting premises, donning black apparel. Their protest targeted on the non-payment of central dues to the state authorities below numerous centrally-sponsored schemes.