Kolkata

BJP MLAs in the West Bengal Assembly walked out on Monday following a motion by the Treasury Benches to discuss allegations that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s microphone was switched off during the NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi. Trinamool Congress legislator Manas Bhuiyan and a state minister raised concerns about the Chief Minister’s microphone allegedly being turned off after five minutes of her speech at the meeting in Delhi on Saturday.

BJP MLA Sikha Chattopadhyay accused the Trinamool Congress of orchestrating a planned deception, claiming the Chief Minister and her nephew had intended to fix outcomes in Delhi. When their efforts failed, she said, the Trinamool Congress resorted to dramatics.

During the ensuing protests by BJP legislators in the House, the Speaker attempted to calm tensions and encouraged MLAs to engage in discussions. Eventually, BJP legislators walked out and protested in the Assembly lobby.

State Minister Firhad Hakim of Municipal Affairs and Urban Development stated there were concerns beforehand that the Chief Minister might not be allowed to speak at the NITI Aayog meeting, which, he asserted, came to pass. He added that the Chief Minister had raised objections to this issue.